REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XW'IL 



into Great Britain, a ver^' different verdict would bo given as the result 

 of thirty years' trial. 



While the seines ensnare enormous quantities of certain kinds of fish, 

 under especially favorable circumstances, the ponnds and traps take 

 them in still larger numbers, because they act without the direct agency 

 of their owners, who can remain on shore during stormy weather, as- 

 sured that the very disturbance of the sea will conduce to the greater ex- 

 tent of the catch. Thousands of barrels of fishes are frequently taken at 

 a time, and I am myself cognizant of the ca])ture of no less than 20,000 

 blue-fish, representing a weight of at least 100,000 pounds, in one weir, 

 in the course of a single night. In the appendix will be found an account 

 of captures effected at various weirs and pounds. 



With this general explanation of the character of these potent engines, 

 we may perhaps realize their bearing upon the question of the fisheries. 

 As set in the waters of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, they are usu- 

 ally put down in the early spring and kept at work for six weeks, or even 

 longer; not unfrequeutly throughout the whole summer, but are taken 

 up before the autumnal storms occur, in order to prevent their destruc- 

 tion. The expense of a net-pound is very considerable, amounting to 

 two and even three thousand dollars, while four men at least are re- 

 quired throughout the season to attend to one. They are usually in 

 operation by the 1st of May, sometimes being set a little earlier and 

 sometimes later, and they take generally more or less in the order speci- 

 fied the following more important kinds of fish : 



Alewives, (Pomolohus 'pseiido-liarengus, Gill.) 



Horned dog-fish, [Sqnalus americcuu(s, Gill.) 



Tautog, {Tautoga onitis, Gthr.) 



Mackerel, {Scomber vernalis, Mitch.) 



Menhaden, {Brevoortia menhaden, Gill.) 



Scup, {Sfcnotomus argyrojys, Gill.) 



Sea bass, {Centropristcs fnrvns, Gill.) 



Blue-fish, {Fomatomus saltatrl.r, Gill.) 



Squeteague, {Cynoscion regalis, Gill.) 

 By the middle of June the supplies of some of these fish decrease to 

 such an extent that the traps aud pounds are generally taken up for the 

 season. Some of the pounds, however, are kept down throughout the 

 summer, especially with the object of securing menhaden, blue-fish, 

 Spanish mackerel, aud squeteague, other fish being captured occasion- 

 ally, but in inconsiderable amount. 



It is noteworthy in this connection that, with the exception of dog- 

 fish, mackerel, alewives, and menhaden, the edible fish taken in the first 

 part of the season consist of those species wliich constitute the great 

 body of the summer-catch with the line, and which are known to find 

 their spawning-ground along the south coast of jS'ew England. It is 

 these fish to which the inquiries of the Ehode Island and Massachusetts 

 legislatures have been particularly directed, and which, with the excep- 



