166 HISTOET AND METHODS OP THE FISHERIES. 



&. TABLE OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE CRUISE Continued. 



C. NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FISH. 



GENERAL APPEARANCE. I did not notice that the Grand Bank cod presented any peculiar- 

 ities in appearance. In point of size they averaged larger than specimens I saw taken inshore 

 by the people in the various harbors of Newfoundland. I had no means of determining the weight 

 of fresh specimens, but took numerous measurements of specimens brought on board the vessel. 

 A few of these maximum, minimum, and average sizes are as follows : 



Table of measurements (in inches'). 



The average length of the fish brought on board the vessel was 45 inches; some were caught 

 and rejected because too small to be worth bothering with. These were in some cases not much 

 over one foot in length. In the various harbors of Newfoundland I saw the people curing fish not 

 over a foot long, and they never caught any as large as the average Grand Bank fish. 



MIGRATION. It is the opinion of the fishermen that the fish migrate at regular seasons. 

 During October and later the catch of fish is very small. In December and January none are 

 taken. Toward March those who go thus early to the Banks begin to take a few, and as the year 

 advances the fishing steadily improves. Those who fish early in the year anchor their vessels on 

 the most southern and eastern edge of the Banks. Later, as the year advances, the fishing fleet 

 move further north and west, till finally in July most of the vessels are anchored in the neighbor- 



