202 BULLETIN UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 



NOTES OiV IVEW EIVGLAIVD FOOD-FISHES. 



By S. J. inARTIN. 



Gloucester, Mass., October 26, 1881. 



Dear Professor: I thought I would write a few lines in regard to 

 the herring fishery. 



The herring fishery is over. I find there is some time between schools 

 of spawning herrings. The first gravid herring were caught at Pema- 

 quid, Maine, September 3. The next were taken at Wood Island, Sep- 

 tember 25. The next, at Eockport, October 3. The next, at Norman's 

 Woe, October 5. The herring were all done four days. When a school 

 struck at Jane's Cove, the herring were full of spawn from the first to 

 the last. The last school caught at Jane's Cove was October 18. They 

 were not so large as the first. They were full of ripe spawn. One 

 thousand barrels have been caught around the cape. Three-fourths 

 went to Portland. The mackerel fishing is fast drawing to a close. The 

 most of the mackerel caught the last week were caught in the night. 

 They are easier to catch in the night than in the daytime. Some vessels 

 got a school last night. I think the sperling (young sea herring) will 

 be scarce this fall. There were plenty of them in September. They all 

 left the river. The fishermen are getting their nets ready; they will 

 set them the last of the month. Hake are plenty on the shore-grounds. 

 The fall school of pollock appeared last week. Some of the Gloucester 

 vessels have made larger stocks this season ; I will tell you the largest 

 when fishing is ended. 



I remain, your obedient servant, 



S. J. MAETIK 



Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Smithsonian Institution, Wasliington^ D. C. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE FISH-WAIT IN PITT RIVER, CALIFORNIA. 



By S. R. THROCKMOBTOIV. 



San Francisco, October 22, 1881. 



Dear Sir : Your esteemed favor of the 24th ultimo reached me by 

 due course of mail; but confinement to my room by sickness prevent- 

 ing my adding to my information some matters pertaining to the con- 

 struction of the stone fish-way on Pitt Eiver, I have not been able to 

 reply at an earlier date. 



The contract price of the work was $2,400, and it was completed and 

 turned over to the State for that sum, the work having been well done, 

 and complying with all the requirements of the contract. 



Outside of the contract we incurred the additional expenditure of 



