THE BLUE FISH. 157 



mackerel was not an unmitigated evil, however, since, as Capt. Atwood 

 pointed out, the number of lobsters for a time was very considerably 

 increased. The mackerel fed uj^on their eggs, and when they were 

 driven away by the Bluefish the lobsters had a better chance to multiply. 



The Bluefish sometimes make their way up tlie rivers to a considerable 

 distance, the adults, however, apparently never entering the perfectly 

 fresh water. They are found in the Potomac as far north as Acquia Creek, 

 and also far up the Hudson ; indeed, the young of the year are taken as 

 high as Sing Sing on the Hudson and in other tidal rivers, where the water 

 is entirely fresh. 



Summing up all the evidence in regard to the periodical appear- 

 ance of the Bluefish, we find notice of its occurrence in 1672, or even 

 1659, and up to 1764. How long it existed in the waters prior to that 

 date cannot now be determined. The oral testimony of Mr. Parker refers 

 to its occurrence at Wood's Holl in 1780 or 1790 ; and it is mentioned 

 by Mr. Smith as being at Newport in 1800, and at Edgartown, Mass., 

 about the same time, by Capt. Pease. Mitchill testifies to its occurrence 

 in New York, of very small size, in 1810 ; and it is recorded as existing 

 again in Nantucket in 1S20, and about Woods Holl and Buzzard's Bay 

 in 1830 to 1 83 1, and a little later at Hyannis. In 1830 it had become 

 abundant about Nantucket, and in the fall of 1S37 it was first noticed in 

 Massachusetts Bay, and then year by year it became more and more 

 numerous, until now it is very abundant. Several accounts agree in refer- 

 ence to the very large size (even to forty or fifty pounds) of those taken 

 in the last century. 



Further research into ancient records may tend to throw more light on 

 the early history of the Bluefish, and even materially to change the con- 

 clusions already reached. It will be observed that the references to its 

 occurrence, from 1780 to 1800, are on the testimony of aged persons who 

 have heard their fathers speak of it, although I find no j^rinted records 

 anywhere in reference to it between 1764 and 1810. The rate of progres- 

 sion to the north of Cape Cod I have at present no means of indicating, 

 although they probably gradually ranged further and further north, and 

 very possibly occurred much further east than we have any mention of at 

 present. 



During the present century the maximum of abundance of these fish off 

 the middle coast of the United States appears to have been reached from 



