INSHORE FISHERIES 223 



are taken from the local weirs each day, packed in the best 

 of condition, and are reputed to make a very desirable 

 food for people of moderate means. 



THE MENHADEN. 



The name ' * menhaden ' ' is given to a species of the her- 

 ring family in southern New England, while north of Cape 

 Cod the name ' ' porgy ' is almost universally applied ; al- 

 together, the fish is designated by about thirty different 

 names. The range of menhaden is from Nova Scotia to 

 Brazil and it is by far the most abundant fish on the eastern 

 coast of the United States. 1 "The menhaden's place in 

 nature," says Prof. Goode, "is not hard to surmise; 

 swarming our waters in countless myriads, swimming in 

 closely packed unwieldy masses, helpless as flocks of sheep, 

 near the surface of the water and at the mercy of every 

 enemy, destitute of means of defense or offense, their mis- 

 sion is undoubtedly to be eaten.' 



During the period of the Civil War and for several years 

 thereafter the fish appeared in immense schools on the 

 coast of the Gulf of Maine. Since 1879 the fish have not 

 frequented the coast north of Cape Cod except in limited 

 quantities. The uncertainty of the coming of the men- 

 haden to the coast of Maine in recent years has restricted 

 the menhaden industry to Lincoln County. 



Menhaden approach the southern shores of New England 

 the latter part of April or the first of May; they reach 

 Cape Ann about the middle of May; and the coast of 

 Maine the latter part of that month or the first of June. 

 In September they begin to leave the Maine coast and 

 disappear from the waters of Long Island in November or 

 December. The fecundity of the menhaden is very great, 

 exceeding that of the shad and the herring. More than 

 140,000 eggs have been taken from one fish. 



i Jordan and Evennann, American Food and Game Fishes, p. 109. 



