30 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



named; but, for several very conclusive reasons, they could not. It was forgotten 

 to be mentioned that menhaden Ashing is mainly carried on during the summer months 

 when edible fish are most plentiful and very perishable; that the average time con- 

 sumed in a fishing trip is from three to six days, some of them exceeding the longest 

 period ; that the menhaden boats rarely, if ever, carry ice in sufficient quantity to pre- 

 serve, for any length of time, any food-fishes that may be taken; that of all places in 

 which food-fish should be kept, a noisome fishing boat, with its putrefying, unsavory 

 contents, would be the last, and that even if they were not tainted by such surround- 

 ings their sale in New York, under such circumstances, is prohibited by law. These 

 plain facts completely abolish that line of defense. 



Again, it was argued during the discussion that, with two or three exceptions, 

 the edible fishes of the coast are of the bottom varieties, and, therefore, readily escape 

 from the nets. In answer to this most preposterous argument it is only necessary to 

 state that, generally speaking, the bottom of the sea where menhaden fishing is done 

 is nearly as smooth as a floor. Never, or very rarely, is purse-net fishing attempted 

 in water approximating even to 100 feet in depth. The heavy leads carry the net to 

 the bottom and keep it there. With those leads dragging on the smooth bottom of 

 the sea, the idea that fish, startled by their approach, would attempt to escape beneath 

 them is simply an absurdity. A fish of any kind startled by the approach of the 

 leads seeks refuge by fleeing from instead of toward them, and naturally rises toward 

 the surface. Being intercepted on its course upward by the meshes of the net and by 

 the closing of the deadly purse below, escape is rendered impossible. 



Another favorite argument is that the source of menhaden supply is inexhaustible. 

 It is the identical plea that was offered by those who exterminated the buffalo; by 

 those who denuded the forests of Pennsylvania, Michigan, the Southern States, and 

 who are now carrying on their destructive work in the great forests of the Pacific 

 States. The salmon supply only a few years ago was declared inexhaustible, but 

 grim experience has demonstrated the fallacy of such belief. The Columbia River, 

 once the most celebrated salmon stream in the world, has been robbed of its fruitful- 

 ness, and the Frazier River supply is rapidly being reduced to a like condition. In 

 order to protect Alaskan rivers from similar depletion, the Government is appealed to 

 for the enactment of restrictive laws. 



In this age of greed and of ingenious devices there does not appear to be any 

 natural resources for which there is a market, and the marketing of which will afford 

 a profit, that can properly be considered inexhaustible, and the menhaden supply is 

 certainly not an exception. 



In view of such cogent and impregnable facts, is it surprising that the food-fishes 

 of the coast north of Chesapeake Bay are decreasing? In the Delaware Bay, about 

 S miles above ('ape May. are the "drum beds," once the finest of fishing-gronnds. 

 Squeteague and drum formerly abounded there in their season in such quantities that 

 hand-line fishermen nearly supplied the Cape May market with them. The men- 

 hadenites invaded those beds with such effect that fishermen no longer visit them and 

 meet success. 



New -Jersey made ;i vigorous effort to abolish the hurtful industry, but its legisla- 

 tive enactment was declared unconstitutional. Another effort to secure its abolition 

 by Congressional action met with failure. 



