128 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
year, the fishes now spawning in one vicinity and then feeding in an- 
other. Without the sea herring the fisheries of the northeastern coast 
of North America would be very indifferent, and it is a subject of great 
congratulation that it is to be had at nearly all seasons, especially when 
most needed as bait. 
Both the menhaden and the herring are used either entire for baiting 
the hooks, or chopped up fine in a bait-mill as chum for attracting the 
mackerel within reach of the hook and line or into the net. The sea 
bass of the New England coast finds during the summer season the’ 
chum of the menhaden an irresistible attraction, bringing them within 
reach of the angler whenever its influence is experienced. 
Menhaden and herring are usually cut in pieces for bait for cod and 
for many other varieties of fish; only the small herring, “spurling,” are 
used whole. 
(4) Mackerel.—The mackerel is used very frequently as bait, generally 
the smaller and inferior individuals, or those less valuable for salting 
being employed. They are also sometimes chopped up as bait for mack- 
erel when cheaper material is not to be had. 
(5) Capelin.—Allied if not identical forms of capelin occur on both 
sides of the North Atlantic, and are every where eagerly sought after as bait 
for cod during the period of its presence. Unfortunately on the Ameri- 
can coast it is found foronly about six weeks. It is then in overwhelm- 
ing abundance, coming in for the purpose of spawning, the eggs being 
sometimes washed on the shore in great windrows, and frequently in the 
edges of the sca forming beds several inches deep. When perfectly 
fresh no fish can resist its attractions, and for shore cod-fishing during 
the season nothing better can be had. It is, however, not considered 
especially advantageous for the bank fishing. The capelin is kept fresh 
in ice by the American bankers from 8 to 10 days, and occasionally a 
little longer. The French fishermen use immense quantities of salt 
capelin in the Grand Bank cod-fishery, though by Americans they are 
not considered good bait when salted. 
In Norway the eapelin is used very largely in the spring cod fisheries 
of Finmark, and its approach is hailed with the greatest satisfaction by 
the fishermen. 
(6) Sundry fishes used as bait.—The sand-launce (Ammodytes) may 
also be referred to as specially useful as a bait, as it can be obtained 
in certain localities along the coast of the United States and the Prov- 
inces in vast numbers, and is frequently used as a substitute for other 
kinds of bait, and the corresponding European species is equally satis- 
factory, being used by the fishermen on a large scale. Although less 
in size than most of the species just enumerated, it can be used entire 
and constitutes quite a tough, desirable bait. This fish lives mostly in 
the sand, where it buries itself with great rapidity and is entirely con- 
cealed from view. 
Other baits are frequently used both in the large and small fisheries, 

