98 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



the land than formerly, and does the practice of fishing icith the beam trawl 

 net from steam and sailing vessels exist on any part of the coast f 



France. — The beam trawl-net is used principally by sailing vessels, 

 and almost without exception outside the 3-mile limit. Possibly engines 

 of this nature have frightened the fish into deep water. Its use is for- 

 bidden within 3 miles of the shore with certain exceptions. The size of 

 the mesh must be at least 25 millimeters square. 



Denmark. — The use of the English trawl is, by the law of March 9. 

 1872, forbidden within three-fourths mile of the shore. Very great in- 

 jury has been done by miniature trawls in the firths. It is not. thought 

 that fish have been driven to deeper waters. 



Belgium. — The beam trawl is used exclusively by sailing vessels and 

 in various places in this country. The movements of the fish have not 

 been observed to vary except according to the different seasons of the 

 year. No restriction has been placed on the use of any apparatus. 



Norway. — The beam trawl is not used. 



Sweden. — The beam trawl is not used. The fish appear to have 

 taken to deep water, which is possibly owing to the increase in the size 

 or number of the implements which are in use. 



Holland. — The larger fish certainly keep at a greater distance from 

 the land than formerly, probably owing to the change in the tempera- 

 ture of current. There is no restriction on the beam trawl-net except 

 in the waters of the Zuyder Zee and Zeeland, and it is used by sailing 

 vessels exclusively all along the coast of the North Sea. 



Germany. — Trawling is forbidden near the State oyster beds and on 

 certain coasts. The trawl is 20 feet beam, and is used by about 300 

 small sailing vessels along the Prussian coast. 



United States. — It is suspected that fishing has, in some cases, 

 driven fish to deeper water, but this is not by any means a proven fact. 

 It is highly probable that in certain years some kinds offish have been 

 kept away from the coast by low temperatures of water. 



The fish of Indian River. — Writing from Tropic, Brevard County, 

 Florida, under date of September 29, 1884, Mr. M. E. Stevens, says; 



"The fish in Indian River are very fine, large in size, and delicious in 

 in flavor. Just now we are enjoying the first of the mullet, the run not 

 beginning till about the 1st of October; then they come through Indian 

 River Inlet and pass up the Banana or East Indian River in such 

 countless numbers as to be crowded on shore. These are taken by the 

 tons and cured for winter use at home. Many tons are also being used 

 for fertilizing purposes. 



We also have bass, trout, pompano, Spanish mackerel, red snappers, 

 and. a medium-sized fish locally called snapper or mutton fish, fine fla- 

 vor, and a most lovely looking fish, being striped from head to tail with 

 narrow stripes of bright pink and blue on the sides ami bright silver on 

 the under side; smaller ones most beautiful in an aquarium. 



