4G0 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Monthh/ statement of the menhadden received by the Barren Inland Manufacturing Company 

 in 1861 and 1882, with t' e average yield of oil. 



i Number of Average 

 Month. lisli yield of oil 



received, per 1, 000 fish. 



1881. Gallons. 



May 3,986,350 1.76 



Julie 4,186,450 2 90 



July 5,321,850 2.58 



August 3,514,700 3.46 



1882. 





•> 7.-. 



May 3,144,600 



J inn- i 3, 461, Siio 5. 12 



July 0,909,700 5.00 



August 10,00U,O(i() 5.60 



Comparing these averages you must naturally conclude that the fish 

 have left poorer feeding grounds for better ones. The Humphrey, of 

 Tiverton, li. I., loaded up twice last week at Cape May, taking each 

 time 000,000, all big fish, and other boats have caught correspondingly 

 as many without driving away the fish or decreasing them according 

 to all appearance. 



Bluetish and weakfish never were more plenty on the Jersey coast 

 than this year. The captain of one of our steamers caught by a mistake 

 1,078 bluefish, and all he got for them in the market was 3 cents a pound. 

 As to stopping the catch of little fish, my neighbor, d'Homergue, agrees 

 with me that they should not be caught. I, for one, would advocate 

 legislation in that direction, making it a penalty to catch menhaden 

 with any seines smaller than 2^-inch mesh. 



It stands to reason that any little fish now caught would measure in 

 one or two years four times the size and value, so that every million 

 caught now could represent four millions a couple of years hence. The 

 youug fish should be protected, but whether legislation is at all desiiable 

 is not for me to say. I am satisfied that a circular from you to the 

 United States Fish Association recommending this strongly would re- 

 ceive prompt action from their members. Of course I cannot speak for 

 the Virginians. 



The destruction of sharks by menhaden fishermen is worth noticing. 

 The shark is the only fish which is now regularly fouud among the men- 

 haden, and I estimate that the fleet destroys 1.500 to 2,000 sharks per 

 week. How many bluefish, weakfish, and others would the sharks de- 

 stroy if living ? 



New York, September 2, 1882. 



[For additional communication in 1882 see Bulletin of 1882, Vol. II, p. 252.— C. W. S.] 



1883. 



The indications this spring are worthy of notice. Small and large 

 fish have appeared all along the coast from the Chesapeake to Massa- 

 chusetts. The sound and bavs are full of fish. Some of the traps in 



