BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



45 



Grand, La Have, aud George's Banks arrive in good order, and report 

 rough weather, but not severe or anything like what it was near land. 



The gill-net fishermen were severe sufferers by the storm, aud it is 

 the first time since the introduction of the gill-nets that they have met 

 ■with anyserious loss. Twelve sailreport a loss of 132 nets, with anchors, 

 buoys, &c., of the aggregate value of $2,658. Most of the nets lost 

 wfere off Half-way Eock, on rocky bottom, in 24 fathoms; in Ipswich 

 Bay a few were lost, on smooth bottom, in 15 fathoms; others in 30 

 fathoms were not damaged. 



Receipts offish at Gloucester, Mass., in November, 1885. 



* Free of duty. 



other receipts: From Maine, 110 barrels of herring, 2,374 quintals of hake, 230 quintals of haddock; 

 from Rhode Island, 900 barrels tish oil. Imports from the proviaces : 1,950 quintals hake, 24 quintals- 

 pollock, 2,600 boxes smoked herring. 



13.— IVEIF EIVOIiAIVD FISIIERIES IIV DECEmBER, 1SS5. 



By W. A. Tl^lI.COX. 



During most of the month the weather was unfavorable for fishing, 

 there being high wind and sea and a succession of gales. The small 

 amount of fishing that was attempted on George's Bank and off the 

 New England coast was accomx)anied with severe and many losses to 

 nearly all engaged. The gill-net fishermen have not been able to fish 

 one-half of the time, and have suffered severely in the loss of nets. 

 Eeceipts of the month have mostly been from La Have Bank, where 

 codfish of fine size and quality have been abundant ; and vessels from 

 there were mostly outside of the severe gales, suffered but little, and 

 arrived with good fares. Squid were found in great abundance on La 

 Have Bank, furnishing ijleuty of the best of bait. This was very for- 

 tunate, as most of the weirs were damaged by storms or taken up, aud 

 little bait could be procured along the coast. 



On December 7 a severe gale badly damaged weirs, nets, and all fish- 

 ing property that was exposed. From December 25 to 27 the most 

 severe gale for many years extended the entire length of our Atlantic 



