.48 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



ford, as they were full of spawn. The spring and summer fish were bare 

 of spawn. 



New York, Novemher 29, 1883. 



John Doyle, who is now chief engineer on the New York and Jamaica 

 steamship, and who was three years an engineer with us, reports a solid 

 body of Menhaden about the 1st of last month, 30 miles ofl' Cape Hat- 

 teras. This steamer j^assed through this immense body for fourteen 

 hours ; they were apparently bound for the Gulf Stream and were full of 

 sharks. The presence of the latter on our coast this year may account 

 for the scarcity of blueflsh. 



Never before were our fishermen so much troubled by sharks as this 

 year, and our catch of sharks was unprecedented. 



New York, December 3, 1883. 



15.— niETBOD OF CATCKIIVCi CRABS. 



By McIWEJVAMI^ & CO., 



[Packers of hermetically sealed goods, such as crabs, oysters, clams, «&c.] 



Our crab catch has been greatly lessened this season by the high 

 winds that have almost constantly prevailed along the coast. We catch 

 now with trot lines, one man in a small row-boat attending each line. 

 It has occurred to us that if we could use slooi)S or schooners with dip 

 or other suitable nets, we would be able to work regardless of the gen- 

 eral winds. 



Your familiarity with the habits of the crab, and your knowledge of 

 the methods of taking fish both in this country and abroad, suggests that 

 you might know of some net that would answer our purpose better than 

 the trot-line. 



Hampton, Ya., October 8, 1883. 



Eeply by Professor Baird. 



I am inclined to doubt very much whether it would be possible to use 

 nets in the capture of crabs, especially such as would have to remain 

 for any length of time under water, or where a considerable number of 

 crabs were collected together. "You would, I think, find that those 

 meshed would be immediately devoured by their more fortunate fellow 

 or by accorai^anying fish. 



There are various forms of traps which might be used for catching 

 fish by baiting ; but you are, of course, familiar with all of these. 

 . Washington, D. 0., October 12, 1883. 



