BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 57 



Fifth dredge (two minutes) : 170 oysters, three years old; some shells. 



Sixth dredge (two minutes : 445 oysters, two years old. 



The planted beds in this bay are, as a rule, in good condition and not 

 much troubled with enemies, although some drills are found and the 

 drumflsh now and then poaches among these preserves ; whelks are 

 also found to some extent. Flavor and condition of oysters good, al- 

 though rather salt. 



Spuyteu Duyvel Creek. Years ago the Hudson furnished oysters for 

 quite a distance from its mouth above present city limits, but not a 

 great many are found at the present time. Four dredgings were made 

 in about 4 fathoms of water. From two ol the hauls 14 oysters were 

 obtained and a good many shells. From the other two only shells were 

 secured. The oysters were all quite small. These dredgings were made 

 above the railroad bridge. A dredging in the mud south of the creek 

 brought up a large number of small soft-shelled clams. The beds in 

 this neighborhood present the appearance of being worked to their de- 

 struction. 



Most of the natural beds examined during the trips made with the 

 steamer show unmistakable signs of unscrupulous working and little 

 care for the preservation of the beds. They are littered with rubbish 

 of every kind, particularly with old and slimy shells., and appear in too 

 many cases to be the general dumping ground for ail sort of garbage 

 from passing vessels. They need a thorough clearing and careful super- 

 vision afterwards in order to make them yield what they are capable of 

 . doing. 



New York, X. Y., October 18, 1884. 



ir.-.\OTES G.\ THE FISHERIES OF GLOHCESTEB, MASS. 



By S. J. ilIAKTIN. 



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



Monthly summary. — The receipts of fish at Gloucester during the 

 month of September, were as follows: From George's Bank, 3,126,000 

 pounds salt cod, 24.250 pounds fresh halibut ; from Grand Bank, 3,225,- 

 000 pounds salt cod, 795.000 pounds fresh halibut. 40.200 pounds salt 

 halibut ; from Cape shore (Nova Scotia), 810,000 pounds salt cod ; from 

 Flemish Cap, 190,000 pounds salt cod, 17,000 pounds salt halibut; from 

 Western Bank, 180,000 pounds salt cod, 1,000 pounds salt halibut; from 

 Iceland (three vessels), 454.000 pounds salt halibut, 200 barrels halibut 

 flus; from Greenland (five vessels), 348,000 pounds salt halibut. 140 

 barrels fius; from the mackerel fishery, 71,408 barrels salt mackerel 

 from American shore; G. 244 barrels salt mackerel from Bay of Saint 

 f/awrence; from the shore fishery ,373,000 pounds salt cod, hake, pollock, 

 &c; from the sword-fish fishery,373 sword-fish weighing, 116,390 pounds 



