230 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



Mr. Earll writes: 



"Large Pollock are absent from the waters of Cape Ann from the middle of January till early 

 in May, the small ones leaving earlier, in the fall, and returning in April. 1 The young may be taken 

 almost anywhere along the shore, but the large fish seem to confine themselves to definite locali- 

 ties; and though not particularly abundant during the summer at Cape Ann, it is a favorite 

 spawning ground for the species, and during this period large schools visit this shore. 



"They begin to grow plenty about the first of October, and by the last of the month are so 

 numerous as to greatly annoy the cod-fishermen by taking the hook before it can get to the bottom. 



"During this season some of the smaller vessels fish exclusively for Pollock, 'seizing up' their 

 lines a number of fathoms from the bottom, and at times the fish bite as fast as the fishermen can 

 haul them. Early in November, a crew of four men lauded 10,420 pounds, or about 1,100 fish, the 

 result of less than two days' fishing. Owing to a foolish prejudice, the price is always low, at times 

 being less than thirty cents per one hundred pounds. The average weight of the fish is about 

 nine or ten pounds, and during the spawning season the sexes are taken in about equal numbers." 



Early in May, 1881, two vessels at Chatham caught in one day 35,000 pounds each. The fish 

 were caught with seines as they schooled at the surface like mackerel. 



Perley, writing in 1851, mentioned that he observed that a large number of small fishing 

 schooners was engaged in the capture of Pollock in the rips, or riplings, off Grand Manan. "These 

 rips are formed by strong currents and the conflict of tides, in which the lively Pollock delight to 

 play. Here there is found an abundance of small herring for food. For this description of fishing 

 the vessels are kept in easy sail, the lines attached to poles of seven feet in length, which project 

 from the sides of the vessel. A round, bright lead is used, about seven inches in length, weighing 

 from one-half pound to one and one-half pounds ; the bait is a piece cut from the under, or bright, 

 side of the Pollock; it is called the 'last'; this, being kept in brisk motion by the sailing of the 

 vessel, closely resembles the living fish darting through the water, and is eagerly chased by the 

 Pollock. The fishers often take twenty Pollock with a single 'last,' it being a very tough bait." 



In the Bay of Fundy and along the coast of Maine the capture of young Pollock from the 

 rocks is a favorite amusement. At Eastport these fish are often called "Quoddy Salmon." Hind 

 states that in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence they are known as "Sea Salmon"; this name may refer 

 both to their active and voracious habits, and to the excellence of their flesh in those localities. 



The capture of young Pollock, or mort, on the coast of Norway, is described by Sars in the 

 paper already referred to. 2 



REPRODUCTION. The spawning of the Pollock occurs in the German Ocean, according to 

 Wittmack, from December to February; in Scotland, according to Parnell, in February, after which 

 it remains out of condition until May. 



About the Lofodens, as indicated by the observations of Sars, the breeding time corresponds 

 with that of the Codfish, the young Pollock being found in early summer in company with the 

 young Cod, swimming under the protection of the jelly-fishes. 



Mr. Earll found Pollock spawning at Cape Ann in November and December, but he does not 

 state whether the breeding season continued through the winter and early spring. Concerning the 

 observations made at the Gloucester station, he writes: 



"They seem to spawn while swimming about in the water, and their eggs, being buoyant, are 

 found at the surface with those of the Cod; but they may easily be distinguished from the latter 

 by their smaller size. The first ripe female was seen at the fish wharves October 23. November 



1 In 1861 the first Pollock came into Gloucester Harbor May 2. 



2 See Report of the United States Commission Fish and Fisheries, part 5, p. 720. 



