112 REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The interdiction of seining within 1, 2, or 3 miles of the mainhind has 

 been urged, the 3-niile protected zone being the one most generally 

 favored. In the investigation of the fisherj-, full data were obtained 

 showing the distances from shore at which fish were taken, and the 

 information recorded on this point for the two vessels may be regarded 

 as entirely tyjiical of the fleet. It is well known that the menhaden is 

 found comparatively close to laud, during both the migrations and the 

 intervening season; and those financially interested in the industry 

 have contended that to limit the fishery to the water beyond 3 miles 

 from land would result in the destruction of the business. 



The following summary of the operations of the vessels in question 

 shows that 18,387,370 menhaden, or about two-thirds the aggregate 

 catch, were taken under 3 miles from shore, and 0,089,104 fish, or less 

 than two-ninths of the total yield, were obtained 5 miles or more from 

 land. A conspicuous part of the fishing done beyond 3 miles from the 

 shore was in Delaware, Chesapeake, and other bays. 



The daily record of the observations of the Commission's agents 

 shows that, as a rule, not enough desirable food-fish were taken by the 

 steamers to keep the crews supplied with fresh fish, and tliat only 

 rarely were more edible fish taken than could be consumed on the 

 vessels or by the men employed at the factories. In the case of shad 

 and blueflsh, the comparatively large numbers seined on a few occa- 

 sions were more than could be utilized, and the records show that 206 

 of the former and 410 of the latter taken by one vessel shared the fate 

 of the menhaden ; none of these fish caught by the other vessel was so 

 disposed of. Of the other fish made into oil and guano, there were 356 

 butter-fish (mostly too small to eat), 240 flounders (many being the 

 worthless hogchoker), 36 scup, 44 croakers, 15 haddock, 28 hake, 20 

 spots, 31 squeteague, and 22 whiting. 



The percentage of food-fish catch not eaten was about 20, excluding 

 alewives. All but 13 of the sharks and 4 of the skates were landed 

 at the factories. The crews salted, for their personal use, 25,000 

 menhaden and 1,007 bluefish, bonito, butter-fish, flounders, shad, and 

 squeteague. The fish sold for bait consisted of 199,900 menhaden and 

 10,000 alewives. The fish dumi)ed overboard, given away, or other- 

 wise disposed of, numbered 8,232; of these 2,500 menhaden and 5,000 

 alewives were thrown away and 675 shad were released alive. 



