INLAND FISHERIES. 13 



18G3, p. 189,) they arrive in Massachusetts Bay in a body, coming at 

 once, so as to almost fill the harbor at Provincetown. In one year 

 they came in on the 22d of Jane, and although the day before, eight 

 thousand mackerel were taken, the day after not one was seen or cap- 

 tured. 



He says that they leave about the last of September, with the first 

 cold northeasterly storm, although stragglers are taken as late as 

 December at Provincetown. 



"According to Messrs. Marchant and Peter Sinclair, of Gloucester, 

 (October, 1872,) blue-fish made their first appearance in numbers about 

 Cape Ann twenty-five years ago, coming in great force and driving out 

 all other fish. They are now scarcer than twenty years ago ; about the 

 same as tautog ; some seasons scarcely noticed. 



"Mr. J. C. Parker, an aged gentleman of Falmouth, says the first 

 blue-fish seen at Wood's HoU in this century was taken in July, 1831 ; 

 but his father informed him that they were abundant in the preceding 

 century, about 1780 or 1790, at which time they disappeared ; and that 

 when the blue-fish left, the scup first made their appearance. They are 

 also noted as having shown themselves at the head of Buzzard's Bay 

 in 1830 and 1831, and, although numerous, were of small size, meas- 

 ing about a foot in length. 



" To sum up the evidence, therefore, in regard to the periodical ap- 

 pearance of the blue-fish, 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, Massachusetts, about the same time by Captain Pease. 

 Mitchell testifies to its occurrence in New York, of very small size, in 

 1810 ; and it is recorded as existing again at Nantucket in 1820, and 

 about Wood's Holl and Buzzard's Bay in 1830 to 1831 ; and a little 

 later at Hyannis. 



In 1830 it had become abundant about Nantucket, and in the fall of 

 1837 it was first noticed in Massachusetts Bay ; and then year by year 



