THE MENHADEN FISHEEY. 331 



2. FISHING GKOUNDS. 



The menhaden fishery is carried ou chiefly by fishermen of New Knghmd, New York, and New 

 Jersey, along the coast, aiid by the fishermen of Virginia and a few from Maryland, in the waters 

 of Chesapeake Bay. Prior to the year 1879, when menhaden suddenly disappeared from the region 

 north of Gape Cod, the Gulf of Maine was one of the principal fishing grounds, and was resorted 

 to by a very largo fleet of sail and steam vessels. Since 1879 the cruising grounds have been 

 south of Cape Cod, one of the best places being along the Long Island shore from Montauk Point 

 westward. Other important fishing grounds are in the waters of Long Island Sound, along the 

 New Jersey coast, and in Chesapeake Bay. 



As soon as the fish make their appearance in spring, vessels start in pursuit of them and con- 

 tinue their capture until their disappearance in the autumn. From the menhaden oil and guano 

 factories along the Southern New England, New York, and New Jersey shores the fleets of steam 

 and sail vessels begin their cruises early in May, pursuing the fish along the shores and in the 

 sounds wherever they can be found. 



The regular fishing grounds at present extend from Chesapeake Bay to and including Long- 

 Island Sound, and in some seasons extending into Vineyard Sound, on the southern coast of New Eng- 

 land. The vessels seldom cruise more than 10 or 15 miles from laud. The total area of the grounds 

 is estimated at 5,350 square geographical miles, divided as follows: Long Island Sound and the 

 vicinity of Block Island, 1,200 square miles; off the south side of Long Island, from Montauk 

 Point to Sandy Hook, with an average width of 15 miles, 1,575 square miles ; off New Jersey, from 

 Sandy Hook to Cape May, 1,575 square miles; Delaware Bay, 150 square miles; Cape Henelopen 

 to Cape Charles, with an average width of 2 miles, 250 miles ; Chesapeake Bay, from the Capes to 

 Tangier Sound, GOO square miles. 



The absence of menhaden north of Cape Cod during the last few years has caused a great loss 

 to the capitalists interested in the numerous oil factories on the Maine coast and much distress 

 among the men who depended on this fishery. Mr. E. E. Earll thus describes the effects of this 

 scarcity in 1879 : 



" The total absence of pogies along the coast of Maine is causing no little loss to all interested. 

 The shore fishermen have lost fully half of their time and over half of their usual catch from not 

 being able to get any pogies to fish with, while the ' George's-meu,' from Cape Ann, have been 

 driven far out of their way, going even to Ehode Island and Connecticut to obtain their usual sup- 

 ply of pogy bait. Some have ventured to seek bait here, in the ' hedges ' and traps of the river 

 fishermen, and have frequently taken river pilots and gone far up the Keunebec, often waiting 

 fully a week before getting their supply. The oil and guano factories had gone to considerable 

 expense in getting ready for the season's work, and their property is entirely idle. The factory 

 hands and steamers' crews have been thrown entirely out of employment, and are perhaps less 

 able than any of the other classes interested to bear such a loss. The general prosperity of the 

 pogy fisheries, for some years past, has drawn to them a large class of workmen from other occu- 

 pations. Some, in moving into this region, have built for themselves small houses and have been 

 depending on the summer's work for the means to pay for them or to complete them; others have 

 spent their entire means in getting their families located, and almost none have money laid up to 

 carry them through the winter, and but little employment can be had from this time forward. 

 They were all on hand to begin work the first of June, and kept waiting, in hopes that the fish 

 would ' strike,' until late in August. When they at last gave up the idea, it was too late to en- 

 gage in any other occupation. A few of them have gone out in small boats to ' hook ' for 



