80 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



of Brookliu, took 25,000 barrels; Allen & Co., 15,000; others in the 

 vicinity, 85,000. In 1874, about 15,000 Avere taken, the larger portion 

 by Friend & Co. Between 1803 and 1868, some years 500,000 barrels 

 have been taken. In 1877, Mr. Sargent estimates the total catch in his 

 district at 100,000 pounds, or less than 400 barrels. Mr. J. C. Condon 

 states that the fish are quite abundant about Belfast, Me.; 2,000 barrels 

 were taken in the Belfast customs district in 1873 ; 3,000 in 1874. Sein- 

 ing does not appear to diminish their number. According to Mr. K A. 

 Friend, the pogies are much more numerous about Brookliu, Me., than 

 any other fish ; their numbers are not apparently diminished. About 

 14,000 barrels were taken in that vicinity in 1873, and 23,000 in 1874. 



Mr. John Grant writes that, though j)ogies are more numerous about 

 Matiuicus Rock than any other fish except the herring, their numbers are 

 decidedly diminished, probably on account of their wholesale capture. 



Mrs. B. Humphrey states that at Manhegin Island these fish are more 

 numerous than any other, but that seining has greatly affected their 

 abundance. 



Captain Coombs, of Esterbrook, who fishes for the Brightmans at 

 Bound Pond, Bristol, Me., recently caught with his seine, at one haul, 

 1,300 barrels of menhaden, and saved 1,179 barrels, made and valued as 

 follows : Thirty tons scrap, at $10 per ton, $300 ; 3,650 gallons of oil, at 

 GO cents per gallon, $2,190; total, $2,490.* 



At Sargentsville, Me., according to Mr. W. G. Sargent, 1,500 barrels 

 of pogies were captured, in 1877, by Herrick & Bayard's boats. These 

 were taken to the factories in the adjoining township of Brookliu. 



Capt. Frank A. Chadwick, of New Harbor, Me., states that seven 

 purse-seines are used in that viciuitj^, which catch an average of 15,000 

 barrels of menhaden annually, and a total amount of 125,000 barrels. 



Mr. William P. Sprague, of North Isleborough, Me., writes that iiogies 

 are extremely abundant in that vicinity. A fleet of menhaden steamers, 

 some twenty in number, has fished much here. 



Mr. Lewis McDonald, of North Haven, Me., estimates the catch of 

 menhaden for 1877 at 400 barrels. 



The number of fish taken about Booth Bay and Bristol is given in the 

 report of the Maine Oil and Guano Association, cited elsewhere. Mr. 

 Sartell thinks that the fish are driven away by the seines. Mr. Ken- 

 uiston and Mr. Brightman think that there is no perceptible diminution, 

 as they continue by far the most numerous species. Mr. Washington 

 Oliver thinks that they have been diminished hj the fisheries about 

 Booth Bay. 



Mr. Kenniston states that in the town of Booth Bay, in 1873, 152,000 

 barrels were taken by five factories, as follows : Kenniston, Cobb & Co., 

 17,000; Gallup & Holmes, 17,000; Gallup & Manchester, 25,000; Suffolk 

 Oil Works, 48,000 ; Atlantic Oil Works, 45,000. In 1872 the aggregate 

 reached 110,000 barrels ; in 1871, with six factories, about 95,000 ; in 

 * Boston Semi- Weekly Advertiser, August :;i7, lb72. 



