BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 401 



Vol, S¥, I¥o. 26. Washiaag^toii, ©. C. Sept. 16, 1884, 



4 



19S.— NOTGS ON THK FSSHKRIES OF OJLOUCESTER, IflASS. 



By A. HOWARD CLARK. 



[From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



Specimens. — To-day we received a spotted catfish 4 feet long, a 

 beautiful speciuien. I send it in ice to the Smithsonian Institution. The 

 spawned herring struck here Saturday, September 20, a fortnight earlier 

 than last season. Among the specimens received within the jiast week 

 are some very fine branches of white and red coral ; a piece of the latter 

 {Paragoryia arhorea) measured 4^ feet in height. The Gussie Blaisdell 

 brought some sea-corn (eggs of Gasteropoda f)^ 19 inches high. — Sep- 

 tember 22, 1879. 



Herbing. — On Saturday, September 20, spawned herring appeared 

 in the vicinity of Norman's Woe. Through the following week a few 

 were taken. On Sunday, September 28, they were taken in considerable 

 quantities. On Monday there was an increase, on Tuesday, Wednesday, 

 and Thursday they were very abundant. On Friday, October 3, they 

 disappeared from this locality. On Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 

 5, some were taken near Marblehead. Since then none have been seen. 

 About 100 vessels from Gloucester, Boston, and other places were en- 

 gaged in this fishery. Un Wednesday afternoon, October 1, 71 vessels 

 Mere kept busy. The nets used were the common gill-nets, 2h to 2f 

 inches mesh. In many cases the nets were sunk by the weight of fish, 

 and in a few cases they were never recovered. The Cape Ann Adver- 

 tiser stated the number of barrels taken at 2,500, but I have found, by 

 calling upon each dealer, that 9,580 barrels were received in the Glou- 

 cester market. On October 3, 2,000 pounds of pollock were brought 

 to Gloucester, being the first of the season. On October 6, 4,000 pounds 

 of large pollock were brought in. 



Mackerel. — A fleet of 125 mackerel fishing vessels put in here Octo- 

 ber 6, because it was too rough for fishing. There arrived this morning 

 two mackerel catchers, the Edward Everett and the Phoenix ; the former 

 with IGO barrels, the latter with 150 barrels of good mackerel, caught 

 yesterday 20 miles east by south of this place; about one-fourth of the 

 fish were No. 1. Last year at this time the mackerel had about disaj)- 

 peared. Eecently we received a specimen of Lycod.es valiUi, the third 

 one in the country. Eeceived October 7, by schooner Herbert M. 

 Eogers, among other things, 25 young black dogfish, each 6 inches long, 

 taken from the parent. — October 9, 1879. 



Storm. — The terrible storm of Tuesday caused the loss of at least one 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 84 26 



