448 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



The vessels in this fishery now number about 100 sail and are largely 

 bakers, belonging along the Maine coast. 



Mackerel have been very abundant, a large fleet arriving daily with 

 full fares. The number of vessels arrived here the twentj'-four hours 

 with mackerel has been 39, with 12,230 barrels; of which 10,909 bar- 

 rels were shore catch, and the rest taken in the Bay of Saint Lawrence. 

 About 20 vessels are now in the bay. The catch there this year by the 

 American fleet, numbering 49 sail, has been between 12,000 and 13,000 

 barrels. 



Gloucester, Mass., September 8, 1884. 



315.— TRAPPINO OASPEREAV IIV TAIVOIPAHOA RITCR. 



By J. DOCK. IIARRELI.. 



[From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



We are also beginning to note the increase of the gaspereau in our 

 river. Previous to the war they were plentiful, but during the war there 

 was a system of trapping inaugnrated, which in a few years almost ex- 

 terminated them. They are white, resembling the bufialo in shape, and 

 have been caught here weighing from 20 to 50 pounds. They have two 

 bones imbedded in their head that seem to have no connection with any 

 organ of the head whatever. They have been caught this size by means 

 of a trap known here as a wing-dam trap. This is built with a strong 

 fall to the mouth and latticed to allow the water to pass through; 

 fingers extend back of the fall-board which i>reveut the fish from taking 

 any side advantage of the current and force of water produced by the 

 fall-board. The trap is generally placed in the middle of the river in 

 shallow water, and a dam constructed on each side to the bank is built 

 of stakes and brush in the shape of a letter V, with the trap in the 

 center where the wings join. The dam is built to raise the water to a 

 depth of 3 to 4 feet above, and allows no fish to proceed down stream 

 without being caught. A current is produced in front of the trap so 

 that if one of any size stops within 3 feet of the month of the trap, in 

 the twinkling of the eye he feels himself going over the fall-board. 

 Then there is no chance in the world for him to save himself. This is 

 a system of trapping that should be a direct violation of the law. 



Bass* are found to be on the increase here, and are discovered in 

 numbers from 3 inches long upward. They are very game when hung 

 with a hook. 



OsYKA, Miss., Avgust 1, 1884. 



*A specimen sent was pronounced by Dr. Bean to be the fresh-water drum or sheeps- 

 head {HapJoidonotus (jrunniens). — C. W. S. 



