Atwood.] 322 



Chlorite consists, according to tlie analysis by Varrentrapp, of- 



Silica 30.38 



Alumina , . 16.97 



Magnesia 33.97 



Protox. Iron 4.37 



Water 12.63 



There are several varieties of Chlorite ; specimens from Switzerland 

 and Dauphiny differing considerably from the above from Siberia, but 

 not one of them contains less than 14 per cent, of Magnesia. 



Capt. [NT. E. Atwood spoke on the habits and distribution 

 of the Haddock. 



Its distribution is not so wide as that of the Cod, as it is not 

 common south of Nantucket Shoals, nor north of the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence, where it is not very abundant, but the specimens taken 

 are very large. They have been found recently in abundance on the 

 southern border of the Grand Banks. 



Fifty years ago this fish was scarce on the Grand Bank, and along our 

 coast few were caught. In 1840, they became very numerous about 

 Cape Cod, so as to interfere seriously with the cod fishery, as they 

 would take the cod bait. In about 1850, they had increased so 

 rapidly that the markets were glutted, as they have been at times 

 since. They have been caught in great numbers this spring, and 

 seem to be still on the increase. It is possible that the method of fish- 

 ing by trawls may increase their numbers by catching up other species 

 of fish that prey upon their spawn. 



It spawns in the spring months when it is taken in shore, in shallow 

 water. Out of the spawning season they are caught farther out in 

 deeper water. In the winter they do not leave the coast, but keep 

 about the outer fishing grounds. While the cod is taken usually with 

 hand lines, the haddock is almost exclusively taken by trawls. The 

 hooks are lowered to the bottom and the haddock will take the bait 

 freely, while the cod will only take the bait when it is raised a short 

 distance from the bottom. Salted menhaden is used frequently for 

 haddock, which they will take freely, while it is poor bait for cod ; 

 both cod and haddock will readily take stale clams, as they are much 

 better for bait than when fresh. 



The cod prefers fresh or live fish for bait, and seizes the Lance and 

 Pipe-fish. Capt. Atwood exhibited specimens of the Lance-fish which 

 had been taken from the bodies of the cod, when the fish was cleaned ; 

 the Lance was changed into a solid mass, encysted in the flesh near the 



