82 EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



About Marblehead, Mass., says Mr. Dodge, they are greatly dimin- 

 ished and are less numerous than most other species. 



Mr. Horatio Babsou states that the value of the catch of menhaden 

 oft" Gloucester in 1876 was nearly $800,000. Mr. George W. Plumer 

 estimates $750,000 for the New Eugland coast. George Norwood esti- 

 mates its value at from $300,000 to $500,000. 



Capt. Charles 0. Pettingell estimates the number taken in Salem 

 Harbor at 2,000 barrels. This is probably below the actual figure. 



Mr. Horace M. Merchant, of Lanesville, Mass., estimates the catch in 

 that viciuity at 750 barrels. They are taken mostly by gill-nets, 300 of 

 which are in use, and are sold for bait. 



Mr. J. G. Poud, of Proviucetown, estimates 1,000 barrels for that port. 



At Plymouth, Mass., according to Mr. Thomas Loring, the menhaden 

 are very few and are diminishing. 



About Wellfleet, Mass., states Mr. Dill, the number is greatly dimin- 

 ished on account of the bluefishj they are not so numerous as the 

 mackerel ; the capture for the past eight years (in 1873) has been about 

 $500 worth a year. In 1874 about 0,000 barrels were taken in the bay. 

 Pishing does not appear to diminish their numbers. 



Capt. Hanson Graham and Capt. Zephaniah P. Lanman estimate the 

 ■catch of Wellfleet for 1877 at 20 barrels. This is far too small. 



Capt. Henry E. Hatch, of North Eastham, Mass., states that many 

 menhaden are taken in the pounds of that neighborhood. 



Capt. Solomon Dinuel, of East Orleans, thinks that 100 barrels are 

 taken in the gill-nets belonging in that town. 



At Provincetowu and Truro, Mass., according to Mr. David F. Loring, 

 the fish are greatly diminished ; they are more numerous than any other 

 iish in late April and May. Only 1,000 to 2,000 barrels were taken in 

 1873. 



At Chatham they are more numerous than any other fish, though 

 they do not enter the bay so plentifully as in former years. From 3,000 

 to 5,000 barrels have been taken annually for the past six years. Cap- 

 tain Hardy does not think that their abundance is affected by the fish- 

 eries. 



Mr. Kenney states that at Nantucket pogies are the most numerous 

 -fish. They vary in abundance from year to year but for the past ten 

 years, as a whole, their numbers remain about the same. Fishing does 

 not affect them. On the other hand Capt. S. H. Winslow, line fisher- 

 man, testifies; "The menhaden are very scarce now (July 19, 1871), 

 and I think we shall lose them too very soon, because they are using them 

 up for oil.* In this month and from the 20th of June the ocean used to 

 appear to be literally covered with menhaden. Now there are not a quar- 

 ter as many as there used to be. People think they are plenty because by 

 rising a purse-net one or two hundred fathoms long they can purse 

 several hundred barrels at a haul." 



*ileport of United States Commiesioner of Fish aud Fisheries, 1871-'72, p. 46. 



