98 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES [8J 



Mr. John Fletcher Wonson tells me that at one time he left Glouces- 

 ter on a halibut trip January 1, and January 3 or 4 on George's Bank 

 caught a hogshead of herring and 7 or 8 mackerel in a gill-net. 



The Schooner Shooting Star took a number of mackerel on George's 

 Bank in March, 1850.* 



The fishermen on George's took tinkers from the stomachs of cod-fish 

 in February, 1878, using them for bait. Sometimes five or six were 

 taken from one fish. 



In January, 1868 or 1869, Capt. Warren Brown, of the schooner 

 Charles Frederick, of Gloucester, caught 30 mackerel on a trawlline 

 set on the middle bank. 



The Yarmouth Herald (Yarmouth, Nova Scotia), January 2, 1879, 

 states that " two fine fat fresh mackerel were found among the kelp at 

 Green Cove on Friday, December 28, 1878." 



Basing their arguments upon such occurrences as these, Canadian 

 writers have attempted to prove that large bodies of mackerel hibernate 

 along their shores throughout the winter. It is still believed by many 

 fishermen that the mackerel, at the api^roach of cold weather, go down 

 into the mud, and there remain in a state of torpidity until the ap- 

 proach of warm weather in the spring. All that can be said regarding 

 this claim is that, although we do not know enough about the subject to 

 pronounce this impossible, American ichthyologists think they know 

 enough to be of the opinion that it is very decidedly improbable, t 



* Cape Ann Advertiser, April, 1856. 



tit seems only fair to quote in this connection a letter printed in Forest and Stream, 

 a leading New York journal devoted to field sports and tlie fisheries, in criticism of 

 views published at the time in that paper and also in the report of the Fish Commis- 

 sion, part V. I feel the utmost confidence in Dr. Gilpin's statements as to facts ob- 

 served, though ray interpretation might perhaps be different. 



" Haxifax, June 19, 1878. 



"Mr. Editor: In some papers published some time since in the Forest and Stream 

 upon the habits of the mackerel, it is asserted by Prof. Brown Goode that there is no 

 reliable evidence of mackerel being seen upon the coast of Nova Scotia after the 25th 

 of October, quoting me as his authority. Had ho quoted me as giving the 1st of No- 

 vember, 1868, when the fish market at Halifax was full, I should have felt more com- 

 plimented, as I should have known he had read my paper with more attention. In 

 summing up my remarks I stated that mackerel remain usually all November on the 

 surface in Nova Scotia, and during mild winters linger to December. This, Professor 

 Goode says, is not reliable as scientific evidence, because no specific dates are given. 

 To admit this would be to destroy almost the whole mass of information compiled in 

 the report of both the Royal and American Commissioners of English and American 

 Fisheries. But as I am certain that Professor Goode's desire is to have the truth simply, 

 will you allow me a place in your columns to add to my previous assertions such spe- 

 cific dates as I may be able now to obtain, though not admitting his principle. 



"On May 23, 1875, going into the Halifax fish market, I asked generally how long 

 are mackerel in market? I was answered, generally all through November. On ask- 

 ing how long in December they had known them in market, Mr. Grey wire said: 'I 

 recollect them as late as the 10th of December. We keep our nets out to the 30th of 

 November. Men hire to that time. Mackerel are seen after that date, but the seas 



