46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Not much information is to be found in the various publications hith- 
erto made relative to the fish and fisheries of Kastern North America, 
although some .facts of value are contained in the writings of Gilpin, 
Perley, Ambrose, Storer, and others.* 
C.—RELATIONSHIPS AND SURROUNDINGS 
FISHES CONSIDERED COLLECTIVELY OR BY GROUPS.—AlIthough each 
species of fish on our coasts may be considered as possessing some pecu- 
liar habit or combination of habits by which it is distinguished from 
its fellows, they may be, for convenience of consideration, divided into 
groups, all the members of which possess certain common peculigsiteea: 
having an important bearing upon the inethods and times of their pur- 
suit and capture. These relationships are, to some extent interrupted 
by the reproductive instinct, which causes them to change their ordi- 
nary location and to assume new conditions. They are also affected by 
the exigencies of feeding, of pursuit by other animals or by man, or by 
the variations in their physical surroundings. 
Deferring to a subsequent part of the chapter any consideration of. 
the migrations and movements of the various species, we may arrange 
marine fish in certain groups, as follows : 
a. The inshore fish, or those found within a short distance (some- 
times miles) from the shores. These embrace a great variety of species, 
generally of small size and finding their harbor and shelter among 
rocks and stones, sea-weeds, eel-grass, &c. They are fish that can be 
taken from beaches, rocks, and wharves, or small boats from the shore, 
and furnish more occupation and amusement than actual profit in their 
capture. They are also among those most frequently taken in weirs, 
pounds, and fykes. Among them may be mentioned various Cyprino- 
donts, the cunner, the spearing or friar, the young Clupeids, the sea 
bass, the tautog, the scup, and many other species of less note. 
These fish furnish an important article of food, but obtainable only 
by considerable effort ; and being generally of small size, do not yield 
a ver generous return. Some of the species, as the scup, in former 
years were, however, in such abundance on the south coast of New Eng- 
land that hundreds of pounds could easily be taken in a short time. 
b. The offshore jfish.—These are species which usually occupy greater 
depths, and are found at remoter distances from the shore than those 
first mentioned, being generally found on the banks or elevations in 
deeper water. | 
The greater portion of the Gadide or cod family, such as the cod, had- 
dock, hake, &e., belong here; as also the halibut. This group is the 
most EOE tant of our coast- ilies being usually of large size and occur- 



¥) * This section of the reper as prepared at Halifax T have comalinee to omit until a 
new digest of our knowledge of the subject can be prepared, so much information 
having been obtained in reference to the habits of our fishes since 1877 as to render 
it obsolete. 
