HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 475 



31. Crabs, lice, and other living animals are found attached to them 

 at times in the gills and on the backs. 



32. They fall an easy prey to sharks, bluefish, and porpoises; thou- 

 sands are thus destroyed, furnishing food for other fishes that may fol- 

 low in their track, such as drums, trout, «&c. 



33. Epidemics and distempers are very rare, but are sometimes prev- 

 alent ; at which time they have drifted ashore in sjuch abundance that the 

 stench has been fearful. 



34. They are caught and taken with immense purse-nets, made of 

 cotton twine, 200 fathoms long by 25 to 30 feet deep. 



oi). Sloops or cat-boats are used to carry seines and men, at least 3 or 

 4 in number, with an aggregate of 25 men. 

 38. The entire day is often used in catching these fish. 



40. The wind at all times seems to afiect them, as they are seen fre- 

 quently running before it, and in quick motion. 



41. At the present time there are no arrangements made to capture 

 the fat back. The business has not seemed to i^ay, for want of trans- 

 portation. 



42. The fish when caught were used on the spot. The oil was pressed 

 from them by hydraulic press, and the refuse was used as fertilizer. 



58. It is probable that the fish caught does tend to diminish their num- 

 bers and quantity. 



70. Statement of A. G. Davis, Beaufort^ N. (7., February 14, 1874, and 



January 27, 1875. 



1. Fatback. 



2. More abundant than any other species. 



3. Increased. 



4. No establishment in 1873; cannot state for other years. 



5. Does not. 



6. In June; main body arrives in July; increase in size after arrival, 

 and are largest in October. Schools are constantly coming in (in the 

 season) at short intervals. 



7. Swim on the surface except when disturbed ; they then sink, and 

 in a short time reappear. Arrival is known only by their appearance in 

 schools on the surface of the water. This latter, perhaps, may arise 

 from the fact that about the time of their first appearance no fishing is 

 carried on by nets ; it is, however, generally considered that their arrival 

 is first known as stated. They make a distinct ripple on the water, and 

 are easily known from other fish. They attract birds, &c. 



8. Southward, ascend the rivers, drift in schools up and down with 

 the ebb and flood tides. 



9. Kegular and certain; they have never failed; seem to return in 

 greater abundance; perhaps this is due to the fact that only a small 

 quantity have been captured yearly in this locality. 



10. Are taken by nets, &c., inside the inlets; are easily taken. The 



