480 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



are found south of Cape Hatteras. I may meution that only one in- 

 stance of the mossbunker being taken bete has come under my observa- 

 tion. 



2. Other fish are abundant here, but have diminished in numbers 

 within the past twenty years, and I desire to respectfully call your 

 attention to the probable cause. It is a well-known fact tbat brook 

 trout will not remain in creeks below lumber-mills if the sawdust is 

 thrown into them, for the sawdust, it is supposed, gets into their gills. 

 The same reason would account for fish of all kinds being less plentiful 

 now along the coast of Georgia than heretofore, as there is an immense 

 amount of lumber sawed ; and in most cases the sawdust is put in the 

 water. 



17. In November, north of Hatteras, in a body. 



18. Supposed to go east to the Gulf Stream. 



19. Possibly along the edge of the Gulf Stream. 



20. Probably animalculse, as their mouth seems formed for straining 

 water. 



34. For other fish, cast-nets are used. 



35. Length, 6 feet ; spread, 12 feet. 



I beg to be allowed to add that a species of shell-fish called prawn 

 (or shrimp of large growth) is very abundant on this coast during the 

 months of March, April, and May. The length of body, after the out- 

 side shell is taken off, is from 4 to G inches. They are considered a great 

 delicacy, and may be canned by a very simple process and made an 

 article of commerce. 



There is also a small fish found here in great abundance at all seasons 

 of the year, called finger- mullet^ a very sweet fish. There is reason to 

 believe that this fish would rival the sardine if canned in the same or a 

 similar manner. Its length is from 5 to 6 inches. 



Saint Mary's, Ga., January 28, 1875. 

 Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular of 

 the 23d ultimo, relative to statistics of fisheries, and to reply that since 

 my last communication I have learned from one of the Saint Andrew's, 

 Ga,, bar pilots that schools of fish called menhaden come into that sound 

 with the flood-tide and go out with the ebb from the month of April un- 

 til October, but not in as great numbers as found at the North. The 

 same fish are also seen in calm weather during the winter months out- 

 side the sea islands in about seven fathoms of water in large schools 

 from 3 to 4 feet below the surface. My informant says he has caught 

 them at such times with snatch-hooks. 



Very respectfullv, 



JOSEPH SHEPAED. 

 Hon. Spencer F. Baird, 



Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D. C 



