90 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ing. There was not much oil in them, averaging only from IJ to 3 gal- 

 lons per 1,000. Consequently, those manufacturers who carried on a 

 large business barely paid their expenses." 



On iJie coast of New Jersey. 



112. At Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to Mr. A. G. Wolf, the 

 mossbunker is the most numerous fish. About 215 barrels were taken 

 in 1873 by Adams & Co., and about the same the previous year. The 

 fishing does not tend to diminish their numbers 



At isomers Point, Great Egg Harbor, the mossbunkers are " a thou- 

 sand fold more numerous" than any other species. In 1873, 7,200 barrels 

 were taken ; in 1874, 12,000. Mr. Morris thinks that there is no decrease 

 from fisheries or any other cause. 



At Cape May, Mr. D. E. Foster writes they are more numerous than 

 any other fish, but are not so plenty as on the eastern coast of New Jer- 

 sey. As none are caught in this vicinity, the fisheries are not likely to 

 affect their abundance, nor are they at any point south of Delaware 

 Bay. 



On ilic coast of Dclaicarc. 



113. About Bombay Hook, Delaware, according to Mr. J. B. Benson, 

 the oldwife is the most numerous fish in July and August. At Mispil- 

 lion Eiver, writes Mr. James H. Bell, "they rank equal to, if they are 

 not more abundant than, the seatrout, * and far exceed any other fish in 

 number: a thousand bushels of trout are sometimes taken at a haul, 

 but the main fishing season does not last over a month, while menhaden 

 are caught more or less during six months of the year. No diminution 

 is noticeable, and the number seems to be about the same one year with 

 another. These fish are not sought in this vicinity for any purpose 

 whatever : they are caught in seines laid for other fish and are left on 

 the beach to rot or taken home to feed hogs, or are composted for fertiliz- 

 ing the soil, for which they are only valuable. The quantity taken 

 from the water never seems to affect the supply." 



On tJie coasts of Maryland and Virginia. 



114. In Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, Maryland, the alewife is the 

 most abundant fish. Mr. Lawson thinks that their number is decreasing 

 from the influence of the fisheries. 



At Apateagne Island, Accomac County, Virginia, the alewives are 

 more abundant than any other fishes, and are increasing, according to 

 Mr. J. L. Anderton ; and this is also the case at Cape Henry, in the opin- 

 ion of Mr. Richardson. 



Mr. H. L. Dudley informs me that a party of New London manufac- 

 turers, visiting the Chesapeake in 1806, found menhaden in almost in- 

 credible quantities. As he expressed it, "they were so thick that for 



* Cynoscion caroUnensis. 



