CONFERENCE. 127 



While tbere are a great many scup of this year's growtli, there are also 

 mauy last year's scup. Therefore I ascribe a part of this chauge at 

 least to the dimiiiiitioii of the blue-lish. For five years blue-fish have 

 been growing uiore scarce; last year about three-fourths of the usual 

 take, and this year the catch has been much less than last. 



Of squeteague there are a dozen this year where there was one five 

 years ago. In 18G3, 1 collected fishes at Wood's Hole, and I did not see 

 a squeteague, and when I spoke with the flsherinen there about it, they 

 did not know the fish. Four years ago a few were caught there, and. 

 last year a great many. This year, at Meuemsha Bight, one caught five 

 thousand at a single haul. 



Mr. Eeed. I understand that the increase of the squeteague has 

 been in proportion to the decrease of blue-fish. 



Professor Baird, I think the blue-fish are continuing to decrease, 

 thus leaving a better chance for other fish. 



But it is not so much a matter of importance whether the blue-flsli 

 eat the scup or other fish. We know that the waters swarm with little 

 fish that prey largely upon the spawn of other fish, and very young 

 fish. They are just as plenty now as they ever were, and no trapping 

 can affect their supply. They are bound to have a heavy toll out of 

 somethiiig. When scup have been most abundant, they have furnished 

 to these little fish the larger portion of their sustenance ; and when 

 they cannot get young scup they will take anything, and perhaps they 

 take 75 per cent, of all the spawn of everything that is laid in the 

 Maters. 



There is a certain balance of fish, there being plenty to feed all these 

 scavengers, and to feed mankind also. Now, if you bring in the blue-fish, 

 they disturb this balance ; they take scup, sea-bass, &c., that should 

 be permitted to spawn. Consequently the absolute amount of spawn is 

 decreased, and the little fish will still secure their part from that which 

 remains. If there is but a little spawn in the water, it makes little 

 difference to them ; they will have their share out of what is left. 



Then, having disturbed the balance to that extent, we come in with 

 our traps and reduce the number of spawning fish and of spawn still 

 further; and where the blue-fish destroy many, we destroy even more; 

 and then the little t3,sh must take the spawn of anything they can get. 

 If you take in the traps fish that would otherwise furnish spawn to 

 the little fish, then these little fish will take the spawn of other fish. 

 Therefiire, I think the traps should be regulated, but need not be 

 prohibited. 



I think that a " close time," especially during the spawning season, 

 will give the relief that we require. I understand that, as a general 

 rule, the s])awning fish run almost always at night. All the trappers 

 tell me that they catch the breeding fish at night. But in the summer 

 season they catch the Spanish mackerel and other pelagic fish in the day- 

 time. My suggestion to the trappers was, that they should close the 

 traps from six o'clock Saturday night till Tuesday morning. I want 

 three nights and two days. 



Mr. Heed. I suggested from sunset Saturday till Tuesday morning — 

 three nights and two days. 



Mr. Powell. I think that from Friday night till Monday morning 

 will satisfy them better, as Sunday intervening would prevent the dis- 

 posal of the fish caught Saturday. That is what I wanted to do last 

 winter. 



[Mr. PiEED agreed to that time as being better,] 



