278 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
eries and several of the States on the middle Atlantic coast. There appears to be a 
double spawning period, quite similar to that of the sea herring on the Atlantic coast of 
the United States. In spring and early summer the menhaden spawns in abundance 
on the middle Atlantic coast—northern part of the middle Atlantic and southern part 
of the New England coast; and in late autumn and early winter the menhaden spawns 
in great abundance on the southern part of the middle Atlantic coast and the northern 
part of the south Atlantic coast. Ripe eggs from both of these regions have frequently 
been examined. 
Mr. ALEXANDER COOPER (Delaware). I have but a few words to say. The im- 
portance of an international congress to consider the foreign and domestic fisheries of 
the United States is universally conceded. ‘The time has come when something must be 
done to preserve the food fish, which are rapidly disappearing from American waters. 
I speak particularly of the shad and sturgeon fishing along the Atlantic coast, and still 
more particularly of that great industry as it exists in the Delaware bay and river. 
The most direct cause of this depletion with us consists in the pollution and contamina- 
tion of the waters in which these fish live and propagate their species by the owners of 
oil refineries, factories, and mills permitting their poisonous and refuse matter to flow 
into the water, thereby practically destroying the spawning grounds or so affecting them 
as to drive the fish to other localities. There are other causes for this depletion of these 
fish, which seem to be pretty well known. One of them may be stated in connection 
‘with Mr. Hathaway’s paper. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hathaway before. 
About two years ago I was appointed one of a commission of three from the state of 
Delaware, to meet with a like commission from the state of New Jersey, to consider a 
compact which had been entered into between these two states and which has since been 
ratified by Congress, and to draft uniform fishing laws for the two states, regulating 
their respective fishing rights in the Delaware bay and river. A serious question pre- 
sented itself to us in regard to the menhaden fisheries—whether the men engaged in these 
fisheries caught food fish, and particularly shad. Mr. Hathaway appeared before us 
and urged that they did not catch any food fish worthy of mention. The shad and shore 
fishermen contended on the other side that they did—that the shad passed out into the 
ocean in large schools, particularly in the month of September, swimming on the surface 
of the water like the menhaden, and were caught like the menhaden, and used as such. 
I do not present this matter in a controversial way, but suggestive only, so that 
the matter can be investigated and, if true, remedied in some way. It has long been 
an important question to the shad fishermen of the Delaware River. 
Mr. GrorGE P. Squires. I heard Mr. Hathaway, who is my neighbor; I have also 
heard this kind gentleman. I am no lawyer. I am simply a fisherman of fifty years’ 
hard labor. I have this to say to this gentleman and to everyone of this congress. I 
do it upon the authority of my governor, and do it with pleasure. I do it with the 
authority of our Association of Menhaden Fishermen of the Chesapeake Bay. 
Just as this kind gentleman has stated, the great object is to save the food fish. 
I, as the president of our association, am authorized to say to gentlemen who are here, 
foreign or of our own country, that we will welcome them to come among us. We will 
place one of our steamers at their disposal—any man or men; we will treat you as Old 
Virginia can treat you. Come, and see for yourselves. Take our crews and work them 
by yourselves. Come, gentlemen, and see how much the menhaden fishery is a benefit 
to the future of the fish of our country. Come on! 
