8 REPORT OF COMMTSSTOXERS OF IXLAXD FISHERIES. 



natural causes, storms sometimes scour the bottom of vegetable 

 life, or cover it with sand or mud. 



At times the fish will not take the hook from some cause, it may 

 be because gorged by the abundance of normal food, they will 

 not be tempted to take the hook, let it be baited ever so well. 



The result of this meeting was the bringing face to face of the 

 parties representing both sides of the question. It can but have 

 the effect to broaden the views of each, and lead to a more 

 thorough study, and we trust,- a better understanding, of the sub- 

 ject of our own fisheries. 



The following observations of the fisheries, during the past 

 year, are from the pen of Capt. E. B. Church : 



"The menhaden began to show on the coast early in May this 

 season and gave promise of being abundant; they went into Long 

 Island Sound in the usual quantity, and into Narragansett Bay in 

 rather more than the usual quantity; they remained in the bays 

 until about the last of July, when they left and did not return. 

 The early reports from Maine were very encouraging, the pound 

 fishermen reported catching of more than ever before early in the 

 season. But the steamers that cruised the coast failed to find an3^ 



It is the general belief that there was a body of menhaden on 

 the coast, but did not show up at the surface, this belief was 

 strengthened by the appearance of a large body of these fish in 

 Provincetown bay late in October. A large body of menhaden re- 

 mained in Buzzard's Bay all summer. 



The fishermen found a large body of menhaden on the outside 

 of Long Island early in October ; where they came from no one 

 knew, they followed them down the coast as far as Brigantine 

 shoals where most of them disappeared ; some few were caught 

 south of there, in the vicinity of the Delaware, but not many. 

 This body of fish did much towards bringing this year's catch 

 up, although it is still much below the average. Both in the Dela- 

 ware and Chesapeake menhaden were plenty, and good catches 



