130 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
equally attractive to the fish, and occurring in very great numbers, the 
more northern, the Ommastrephes, being found about Newfoundland and 
other portions of the Dominion, and the Loligo in increasing numbers 
from Cape Cod south and westward. They are used either fresh, im. 
mediately after being caught, or sometimes kept in ice; being very 
largely salted, however, in which condition they maintain their attract- 
iveness for about three weeks.* They are usually taken at sea by 
means of the jig, and inshore the weirs and pounds are sometimes 
found to contain them in immense numbers. 
The squid, of one species or another, is found off the coast through- 
out the greater part of the year, in Newfoundland more especially in 
the spring and summer, and on the Massachusetts coast at almost all 
times. It occurs more rarely in winter, apparently passing off into the 
warmer waters. Itis probable that by exposing the squid to the cold 
of a freezing mixture and rendering them specially hard, they may be 
kept indefinitely or until wanted. Among other pounds where squid 
have been takeu in large numbers, that at Waquoit, Mass., captured 
more than 6,000 in a single day ; and at the same pound, the captures 
for the first twenty-five days in May alone amounted to 35,000. (Rep. 
U.S. F. C., 1871-72, page 174.) © 
(9) Whelks—As already mentioned when discussing the subject of 
the long or trawl line as used in Europe, the whelk or Buccinum unda- 
tum was referred to as the principal bait for that mode of fishing; and 
although captured every year in immense numbers for use by quite a 
large fleet of boats and vessels, it still appears to be as abundant as 
ever. Here we have another indirect illustration of the influence of 
man in producing a balance of power in the sea, the whelks being 
notorious enemies of the oyster and other mollusks and destroying 
them in great numbers. The drain, therefore, upon the increase of the 
whelk doubtless has a material effect on the supply of these other 
objects. 
In England whelks are taken on long-lines, on the snoods of which 
the common shore crabs are fastened or threaded, no hooks being em- 
ployed. When laid down, the whelks seize this bait and, retaining 
their hold with great tenacity, are hauled up. 
Another method of taking them is by means of baskets baited inside 
with pieces of fish, a net being stretched over the end, with the basket 
in the center. The whelks enter this, and when the baskets are drawn 
up, they remain in them. 
Shallow hoop-nets, too, are baited with fish for this purpose, and the 
incidental advantage of their capture, as already stated, is in the 
diminution of an inveterate enemy of the oyster. Hach smack requires 


*Squid can usually be kept from 2 to 3 weeks in ice, and for months when salted. 
While the French use salted squid almost exclusively on the Grand Bank, the Amer- 
icans and Provincials prefer to have them fresh, and use but few salt ones, and those 
only in the fall when no others can be obtained.—J, W, CoLLins. 
