244 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
ever, that the disappearance of cod from any locality on the Maine 
coast has been at times coincident with marked scarcity of members 
of the herring family in the same region. 
A study of the reports of the department of marine and fisheries 
of Canada will reveal the fact that the success of the cod fisheries of 
the Gulf of St. Lawrence depends directly and absolutely upon the 
‘abundance of capelin or herring. A scarcity of either of these fishes 
is always accompanied by a scarcity of the cod. This is forcibly 
shown in an examination of the returns from local fisheries. Capelin 
or herring, as the case may be, may appear at some localities and not 
at others. In every instance there is a corresponding abundance or 
scarcity of cod during a season. 
The shore cod fisheries of New England were at one time, and for 
a long time, believed to be declining, and they were. The subsequent 
increase in some localities can be accounted for in at least two ways: 
First, to artificial propagation; second, to reappearance of principal 
food, or perhaps to both. The silverside on the coast of southern 
New England is analogous to the capelin of the north; in fact, it is 
known as capelin in some localities. It is possible that in seasons of 
scarcity of some of the larger fishes of this region there may have 
been a corresponding though unnoticed scarcity of silversides. 
SIZE AND USES. 
Silversides are quite commonly designated as ‘** small fry ” or ** brit.” 
Different species vary in size, and individuals of the same species of 
course vary according toage. The species of Menzdia of the Atlantic 
coast of North America attaining the largest size is IZ. menidia notata, 
the common silverside of the north, which, so far as known, reaches a 
maximum length of from 5 to 7 inches. Fish from 4 to 5 or 6 inches 
in length are not uncommon on the south coast of New England, but 
usually they are smaller. They swim in immense schools, fish of about 
the.same size generally being found together. 
On the California coast certain forms of silversides are of larger size 
and of considerable commercial importance, especially the ‘* blue smelt” 
(Atherinopsis californiensis) and ‘little smelt” (Atherimops affinis). 
The first reaches a length of 18 inches, the other 1 foot. 
On the Atlantic coast silversides are not of much commercial impor- 
tance, although they are sold as bait for young blue-fish (‘‘skipjacks”) 
at some places along Long Island Sound, and sometimes appear on hotel 
bills of fare as ‘‘ whitebait.” When cooked properly they are deli- 
cious, and since they are so abundant they ought to contribute largely 
to the fishing industry and food supply of the Atlantic States. 
The usual method of cooking ‘‘ whitebait” is to roll the fish in cracker 
crumbs and fry them whole. ‘‘ Whitebait” is usually 2.5 or 3 inches 
long. Larger fish may be cleaned like smelts, rolled in cracker crumbs 
