HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 395 



20. Not around these parts. 



30. Cod, pollock, and various other kinds; the parent fish does not. 



31. Kever saw any such. 



32. The bluelish is the only deadly enemy. 



33. About eighteen years ago they died in large quantities, and were 

 piled along the coast of Maine for miles. 



34. Seines and gill-nets. 



35. Seines are from 150 to 240 fathoms long and from 10 to 30 fath- 

 oms deep. The nets are about 20 fathoms long and 5 fathoms deep. 



3G. Fore and aft vessels, from 30 to 80 tons. 



37. From 5 to 12 to each vessel. 



38. Depends on the weather and the fish. 



39. Generally more taken on the flood than on the ebb tide. 



40. Easterly winds do. 



41. About 45 sail for 1873, and about 500 men. 



42. In Gloucester, the greatest fishing port of Massachusetts, they 

 are used for bait ; but some are carried in ice to George's Bank, and 

 the remainder are slivered; that is, the sides are taken off and bead 

 and backbone thrown away, and salted for the mackerel and Grand 

 Bank fishing. 



43. Xone. 



47. From 81 to $2.50 for fresh, and from $G to $9 for slivers, per 

 barrel. 



48. Spring of the year about 2 quarts to 1 barrel ; when in good order, 

 last of August, 3 gallons to 100 fish. 



50. See question 50. 



51. See question 50. 



52. Think they do, as a general thing. 



54. Boston, Salem, Dan vers, and other places. 



55. Sold from factories and carried to different places in Maine and 

 Massachusetts. 



50. Sometimes used for leather, but more often to mix with linseed- 

 oil to cheat the consumer. 



57. About 40 cents per gallon. 



58. In pressing out the oil some gets overboard and makes a calm 

 streak on the w^ater ; this the menhaden will not cross, so that I think 

 this, if it does not diminish, at least drives them farther from shore. 



17. Statement of Capt. F. J. Bahson, Collector of Customs, Gloucester, Blass. 



1. The name usually employed by fishermen to designate these fish in 

 the waters of Massachusetts and Maine are hardheads, pogies, menha- 

 den. 



2. They are found in great abundance in this vicinity, and apparently 

 exceed in quantity all other fish except mackerel and herring, between 

 which the disparity is not noticeable. 



