BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 401 



AlV IIVQIJIRY AS TO THE CAPTrRE OF VOUIVO CODFISH IIX CHESA- 

 , PEAKE ItAV. 



BY J. W. COLLIIVS. 



Washington, Marcli 23, 1882. 

 Prof. S. F. Baird, 



Commissioner of Fisheries, Washington, D. C. : 



Dear Sir : I herewith submit a copy of a letter and replies to ques 



tions concerning the capture of young codfish in Chesapeake Bay, which 



I have just received from Mr. P. W. Savage, of Cherrystone, Va. 



Eespectfully, 



J. W. COLLIKS. 



Cherrystone, Ya., 3, 21, 1882. 



Dear Sir: I have, according to promise, seen the party who caught 

 the fish that I was talking to you about while at this place, and have 

 answered your interrogatious. 



Any information or assistance I can give will be gladly given. 



Very respectfullv, 



P. W. SAVAGE. 

 Capt. J. W, Collins, 



Washington, D. G. 



LIST OF questions AND REPLIES. 



1. Date of capture I — Answer. Some time in June. 



2. What kind of api^aratus were the fish caught in ! — Answer. Haul 

 seines. 



3. Length of fish I — Answer. Six to eight inches. 



4. The exact locality where they were taken i — Answer. At the mouth 

 of Hunger's Creek. 



5. Number of fish caught 1 — Answer. Some six or eight; don't know 

 exactly. 



6. AVere they all taken at one time or at various dates ? — Answer. 

 Thinks they were caught three or four times. 



7. Is there any doubt of these fish being the true cod"? — Answer. 

 Some said they were [cod] ; others said there was a doubt. Some fish- 

 ermen took them for "pollit" or "pollock." 



[It is very desirable to prove the existence of cod in Chesapeake Bay 

 by the possession of specimens caught there, and it is hoped that per- 

 sons who capture what they believe to be that fish will forward some 

 of them to the United States Commissioner of Fisheries at Washington, 

 Young cod were introduced in the bay by the United States Fish Com- 

 mission last winter, and it is thought that some of these have been taken 

 by fishermen. It is proper to remark here that two species of bake are 

 Bull. U. S. F. C.; 81 26 j,,!,- 7, 1 § s*^. 



