EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XI 



in gill-nets, and if the weather is sufficiently cold to freeze them they 

 can be shipped to western ports, where they meet a ready sale. In warm 

 weather, however, this does not take place, and large catches are fre- 

 quently lost. It is, therefore, of the highest importance to be able to 

 anticipate by a few days the nature of the weather. Thus, in a warm 

 season, during which a haul could not be frozen for export, but a cold 

 turn likely to supervene, if timely notice were given to the fishermen, 

 they would be ready to take advantage of the condition of the weather, 

 making their haul and having the fish ready for transportation at the 

 proper time. If, on the contrary, during a cold spell, a warm period be 

 likely to succeed, the fishermen could be warned, and, by avoiding the 

 making of a catch that could not be sold, 'save themselves from loss. 

 Such applications of information, furnished by the signal-station at East- 

 port, have already been made, and will doubtless be multiplied during 

 future seasons. The dealers at Chicago and at other points on the lake 

 find a most valuable advantage in the signals of approaching storms, 

 and increase the amounts of fresh fish ordered from the fisheries in 

 accordance with the fact, knowing that the supplies will be cut off" by 

 the impossibility of lifting the nets in bad weather. 



I am happy to say that General Myer took a favorable view of the 

 suggestions made to him, and promptly established a signal-station at 

 Eastport, which has already more than met the anticipations of its use- 

 fulness to the fisheries of the Bay of Fundy. 



The recent location of a series of signal-service stations along the 

 coast of the United States, in connection with the life-saving establish- 

 ments, promises the means of using, the telegraph in aid of the fisheries 

 to a very great degree. The movement of fishes on the coast, already 

 referred to, can thus be readily ascertained and communicated from the 

 Washington ofi&ce to parties interested. 



6. — CONCLUSIONS AS TO DECREASE OF COD-FISHERIES ON THE NEW 



ENGLAND COAST. 



Of all the various fisheries formerly prosecuted directly off the coast 

 of New England, north of Cape Cod, the depreciation in that of the cod 

 appears to be of the greatest economical importance. Formerly the 

 waters abounded in this fish to such an extent that a large supply could 

 be taken throughout almost the entire year along the banks, especially 

 in the vicinity of the mouths of the larger rivers. At that time the 

 tidal streams were almost choked up with the alewives, shad, and 

 salmon that were struggling for entrance in the spring, and which filled 

 the adjacent waters throughout a great part of the year. 



As is well known, the erection of impassable dams across the streams, 

 by preventing the ascent of the species just mentioned to their spawn- 

 ing-grounds, produced a very great diminution, and almost the exter- 

 mination, of their numbers ; so that whereas in former years a large 

 trade could be carried on during the proper season, now nothing would 

 be gained by the effbrt. 



