HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 397 



14. In pleasaut and warm weather they frequent the surface when 

 the water is warm. 



15. They do not breed upon the coast or waters of Massachusetts or 

 Maine, and we have no evidence at what age they become mature. It 

 is ra^ro to see auy but the full-size fish, or very nearly so. Usually the 

 fish caught are of equal size, and apparently being of the same age. 



16. Young fish have been seen, but at rare intervals, in schools by 

 ihemselves, in size about half grown. 



17. They leave our waters by degrees, beginning about the 1st of 

 October, and by the 30th they are all gone. 



18. They follow the coast apparently in the same manner as they 

 come, to the south, 



19. They are found in the winter in the vicinity of Cape Henry and 

 Cape Charles, but doubtless they are mostly in the Gulf-stream. They 

 have also been seen in winter on the southwest edge of George's Bank. 



20. They feed while in northern waters upon a red bug, or animalcu- 

 Ise, that floats on the surface of the water. This they imbibe by suc- 

 tion, for they have no teeth. 



21. The spawning-ground of these fish, so far as the observation of 

 the fishermen extends, is in Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound, and 

 the waters adjoining. No indication of their spawning exists in our 

 waters, and in a catch of many thousands there is seldom seen a single 

 fish with spawn in them. 



22. There are no indications of the sexes observed while in our water. 

 26, 28. The young of these fish are seen in the vicinity mentioned as 



their spawning-ground. 



30. Sharks, blue-dogs, porpoises, but the most destructive is the blue- 

 fish. Have never heard of the parent fish devouring the young. Whales 

 have been seen in active pursuit of them. 



31. No animals are found attached to them while north. 



32. There has been no ratio determined. 



33. There has never been auy sickness or epidemic while in Northern 

 waters. 



34. Seines and gill-nets are used in their capture. These fish never 

 take the hook nor pay any attention to bait thrown as for mackerel. 



35. The average seines used are 200 fathoms long, 18 fathoms deep, 

 some longer, some shorter. The gill-nets are 25 fathoms long, 6 fathoms 

 deep, 3|-inch mesh. 



36. The vessels employed in this district are schooners and steamers. 

 The schooners are wholly engaged in taking them for bait. The steamers 

 are connected with oil-factories in Maine. Schooners are from 20 to 70 

 tons ; steamers 65 tons. 



37. About 10 men are required to each vessel. 



38. The fish are taken at all times during the day. 



39. As most of the fish are taken off the shore, the tide has no effect. 



40. When it blows hard the seines cannot be set, as the fish do not 

 show themselves as in moderate weather. 



