EFFECTS OF THE MENHADEN AND MACKEREL FISHERIES. 293 
effect upon the movements of the schools of fish. It may still, however, be 
an open question whether the mackerel have not always been fully as intelli- 
gent as they now seem to be when they evade the nets so successfully that the 
fishermen call them ‘‘ educated fish.’ 
CONCLUSION. 
In this paper there has been no attempt to explain the mysterious phe- 
nomena exhibited by the fishes discussed, but merely to suggest lines of inves- 
tigation that might be worth making. There have been frequent more or less 
critical references to the contributions of Baird and Goode, but with no wish 
to attempt to controvert any of their sound arguments. The theories advanced 
by them are as logical and sound as the evidence upon which they were based 
would permit, since the conclusions were reached by assembling and sifting 
the testimony of unscientific observers. Such evidence is difficult to collate 
satisfactorily, owing to the more than frequently contradictory character of 
even that obtained from intelligent, observant, and equally honest persons. 
The views of the purse seiner may be quite contrary to those of the gill netter, 
trap, or pound fisherman, yet each probably is honestly convinced of the 
correctness of his views. 
It is needless to say that in this paper few, if any, new facts have been 
added to the knowledge of the fishes to which it refers. But its object will 
be attained if, by indicating possible errors in the theories previously held, it 
causes a realization of the prevalent profound ignorance regarding the greater 
part of the life of many of our common and commercially important fishes 
and almost total lack of knowledge of the habits and life history of the men- 
haden, and thus proves instrumental in instigating the much needed thorough, 
systematic investigations of those subjects. 
