BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 42u 



satisftictory results. Especially is this true of depositiuj;- too many 

 kinds together, without reference to the present inhabitants and special 

 conditions of the waters and" to the requirements of the iiew-comers. 

 Many of the early plantings, however, in the waters of Michigan were 

 largely matters of experiment, and need not be repeated. 

 Battle Creek, Mich., October 26, 1886. 



12;{ IVOTE!!i OIV THE VilEW ENOLiAND FI.SIIERIES IN DECEMBER, 



1SS6. 



By W. A. ^VILCOX. 



As usual at this season of the year, most of the fishermen and fishing- 

 vessels are either idle or engaged in other callings. The severe losses in 

 December of 1 885 and previous years wisely lead to a partial tempo- 

 rary suspension of the fisheries. During the month there were many 

 severe storms and much rough weather, yet accomijanied by compara- 

 tively few disasters. 



A much reduced fleet from Gloucester has continued in the cod fish- 

 eries of George's Bank and the fresh- halibut fishery of the more dis- 

 tant fishing-banks. 



A number of sail from Gloucester and other ports have also engaged 

 in supplying the large demand for fresh fish. Vessels have also sailed 

 for the Bay of Fundy and Newfoundland for cargoes of frozen herring. 



The receipts of salt cod at Gloucester have been mostly from West- 

 ern Bank, and the amount varies but little from that of the correspond- 

 ing month of 1885, which was principally from La Have Bank. 



The catch of codfish off Cape Ann and particularly in Ipswich Bay has 

 been light, the fish having been late in striking in or near shore j while 

 the fewer vessels and boats engaged, and much rough weather, all com- 

 bined, accounts for decreased receipts from the shore catch. The 

 schooner Arthur D. Story, the only vessel sent to the Bay of Islands, 

 Newfoundland, for herring, arrived at Gloucester on December 2 with 

 800 barrels of fish. 



Mackerel of large size and fine quality remained in the vicinity of 

 Cape Cod up to the middle of the month, the vessels engaged in this 

 fishery having all hauled up; and the catch was confined to gill-nets, 

 weirs, and traps, which realized over $50,000 from the late catch of mack- 

 erel. 



The remaining weirs and traps along the Massachusetts coast were 

 all taken up during the month. Owing to the abundance of bait on the 

 fishing-grounds, the low prices obtained for it, and the scarcity of more 

 valuable fish, their business has not shown much profit. 



Squid continued very plentiful on Western Bank and George's Bank 

 up to December 7. Many vessels left ijort without any bait, depend- 



