ABUNDANCE OF STRIPED BASS. 427 



It has already been stated that the Striped Baas are believed to be less abundant in the Gulf 

 of Saint Lawrence than in former years; similar complaints are heard from the Bay of Fuudy and 

 from Cape Cod, where the period of diminution is believed to date from the last advent of the 

 Bluefish, about 1850. The bass fishery in Cape Cod Bay was formerly of great importance, but 

 the capture of this fish is now of rare occurrence. 1 The early settlers of New England seem to 

 have been more impressed by the abundance of Bass than by any other circumstance connected 

 with the fisheries, and the early chronicles are full of allusions to their exceeding plenty and 

 excellence. Capt. John Smith saw so many in one river that he declares that he thinks he might 

 have walked across on their backs dry-shod. While there can be no doubt that north of Cape 

 Cod their numbers have decreased, there is no reason to believe that elsewhere on our coast the 

 fisheries have had any special effect upon them. A Hessian officer, writing in 1777, declared that 

 enormous numbers were at that time brought to New York, and the same might be said at the 

 present day. Three fishing gangs at Bridgehampton, New York, took over 8,000 in less than a 

 week, in December, 1874. Capt. Charles Ludlow secured at one set of his seine 1,672 Bass, or 

 about three and a half tons; shortly afterwards a New London fisherman brought in 419 Bass, 

 185 of which had been caught with a hook in three hours. Near Norfolk, Virginia, 1,500 have 

 been taken with a single set of the seine. A few years ago, it is stated on credible authority, that 

 600 were once taken, the average weight of which was eighty pounds. In the first half of June, 

 1879, one fisherman near Fire Island, New York, caught and sent to New York the following 

 quantities of Bass : 



Pounds. 



June 2 1,222 



June 4 1,137 



June 5 913 



June 6 1,521 



June 8 1,298 



June 9 1,255 



June 14 1,258 



June 18 . 1,560 



Total 10.164 



extend completely ronnd the island. These stands are built upon prominent rocks, and are supported above the 

 breakers by iron rods. Foot bridges, supported in the same way, are built from the shore to the stands. The stands 

 are all named or numbered, and are drawn for every night by the members of the club. A member drawing a stand 

 can fish from it the next day, or it cau be used by any one else by his permission. The stands bear such names as 

 'Nashawena Point,' 'Cauepitset,' 'Old Water Line,' 'Cove Point,' 'Little Bass,' 'Big Bass,' and 'Guff Rocks.' The 

 stands are all removed after the season is over, to be put up again the next year. 'Central Park' seats have this 

 season been placed on the bluffs round the island at convenient points, from which to watch the fishing at each stand, 

 so that members who are not lucky enough to secure favorite stands can sit with ease and enjoy the sport of their 

 fellow-members. The favorite fishing is for Striped Bass, and, during the best of the season, the sport is commenced 

 as early as three o'clock in the morning. A record is kept at the club house of the daily catch, by whom caught, 

 where taken, on what station, the number of fish, weight, and date. Some members of the Cuttyhunk Club also 

 belong to the West Island Club, which controls only five acres of land. The West Island Club is limited to thirty 

 members, with an admission fee of $1,000." (Correspondent.) 



1 The harbor and contiguous waters were, in early times, as is well known, richly supplied with great varieties 

 offish. Bass were abundant many years, so -that generally three hundred quintals were ready for market in a single 

 season; few, comparatively, of these are now taken. We say /em in comparison with former days. They are still taken 

 in goodly numbers, and the way of bass-fishing at Eaco Point affords a finely athletic exercise for chest and limbs. The 

 fisherman stands on the beach and throws out the line with sinker attached as far as strength will permit, and then 

 hauls in, dragging a bouncing fish, if the throw be a good one. History of Cape Cod (Freeman), ii, 1862, p. C23. 



Three hundred Bass, of good size, were taken at one haul with a wine on Yarmouth Flats on Tuesday last. 

 These fish are taken in abundance in our harbor at this season of the year. Many of them are packed in ice and sent 

 to the Boston market, where they bring a good price. "Going a-bassing," as it is termed, is both a pleasant and 

 profitable amusement. BarnslnMv Journal, July 30, 1H2U. 



Capt. Sam. T. Soper, Provincetown, took seven hundred Bass last Saturday. Fish were seined. Mr. Stephen 

 A. Mayor also caught three hundred Bluefish off the harbor one day last week at one haul. Barmtablc Patriot, 

 October 19, 1858. 



Wood, writing in 1634, remarked: "The Bass continue at Lynn from the middle of April to Michaelmas" (Sep- 

 tember 29). 



