598 THE FOOD FISHES. 



could be distributed to all parts of our country and the Old World was so little, a liberal 

 arrangement was at once commenced. 



Most enlightened nations have devoted means to the same end, particularly the German 

 government. 



It was found, early in the investigations, that an alarming decrease in numbers of fish had 

 occurred on the coast of New England, extending from Point Judith on the west to Monomoy 

 on the east, including Narragansett Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket. 



This fact, Prof. Baird says he has no hesitation in saying, has been established by his 

 own investigations, as well as by evidence of those whose testimony was taken on the subject. 



But few years since, this region was the scene of an extensive fishery, the most important 

 on our coast; the number of southern or deep-sea species resorting to the inlets and bays 

 to deposit their spawn being enormous. 



The Scup, Black-fish, or Tautog, Striped Bass and Sea Bass, Sheep's-head King- fish, and 

 Weak-fish. The appearance of these fish was extremely regular. Their arrival could be cal- 

 culated with quite exactitude, as much so as with the migratory birds, varying only at times 

 by changes of temperature, etc. There were a few that seem to have been independent of such 

 fixed conditions, and whose movements were somewhat erratic, as the Mackerel, Bonito, 

 Blue-fisn, etc. 



The Scup, from the Indian name Mish-cup-paug, known as Porgy in the Southern States, 

 and by the early English settlers as Bream, from its resemblance to the English fish of that 

 name, is an important fish in this connection, as being the species that has suffered most in 

 this wonderful decimation. Its technical name is Stenotomus argyrops (Linn.), Gill. Its 

 southern range is to Cape Florida, and it is found in southern waters throughout the year, 

 more abundantly in June and July. 



The first run of these fish seen on our coast in the season is in May, when the largest are 

 noticed ; these proceed early in June to lay their spawn. These are from two to four pounds' 

 weight, and about eighteen inches in length. It is thought that the spawning takes place in the 

 eel-grass that spreads over the shoal waters of Narragansett Bay and Vineyard Sound. There 

 is a regular interval noticed between the departure and arrival from point to point. For 

 example, the Scup are taken at Montauk three weeks earlier than at Woods' Holl, and a week 

 earlier at the latter place than at Hyannis, still farther east. They feed upon a great varity 

 of marine animals, such as worms, Crustacea, mollusks, etc., and they take a hook very readily 

 as long as they remain. 



The flesh of the Scup is very much prized by most persons. It is firm and flaky, and sweet. 



Since the settlement of America, it has been the most important food fish taken in these 

 waters, and the rapid diminution has caused great solicitude. 



This fish is little known north of Cape Cod. Dr. Storer says they were introduced into 

 Massachusetts Bay in 1833, and that they are taken only seldom. The great numbers of this 

 species of fish once known to be in the vicinity of Vineyard Sound and Narragansett Bay are 

 indicated by a record of schools seen in the latter place, where the water was nine feet and the 

 fish so abundant they were crowded out of water. Six hundred barrels were taken at one haul 

 of the seine, near Nantucket. At one time, in 1861, seven hundred barrels were let out of a 

 trap, the market being glutted. Until within about eight years, one could take Scup anywhere 

 from Point Judith to Cape Cod, almost as rapidly as a line with two baited hooks could be 

 thrown over and hauled in. 



The great reduction in numbers of these fish is estimated to cause the price of living among 

 many families to be raised to a hundred dollars extra yearly. 



The causes of the decrease of the numbers of food fishes are placed as follows : The 

 decrease or disappearance of the food upon which the fish subsist, necessitates their departure 

 to other localities. 



Epidemic diseases, or peculiar atmospheric agencies, such as heat, cold, et cetera ; 

 destruction by other fishes ; the agency of man, being manifested either by the pollution 

 of waters, by the refuse of factories, or the excessive over-fishing, or the use of improper 

 apparatus. 



