248 EEPOE'^ifcJ^OMMLSSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Lono' Island Sound, tliey are taken very largely in gill-nets as well as 

 ■with the line. Wherever they occur, of course large numbers are taken 

 with the hook and line by sportsm en and amateurs. 



The tish taken on the south side of New England, and off the coast of 

 New York and New Jersey, are foi»the most part shi[)ped to New York 

 for consumption as fresh tish. They are packed in ice, if near a railway 

 communicating with the cities, and put up in sugar-boxes, about 300 

 pounds in a box. The fish taken at Nantucket, however, and to some 

 extent those at Edgartown, are salted and packed in barrels for winter 

 use. These contain about 200 pounds each, and are worth $10 per bar- 

 rel in good seasons. 



According to Captain Atwood, (Proceedings Boston Society of 

 Natural History, IX, 1803, p. ISO,) in addition to their capture in Massa- 

 chusetts Bay in weirs, they are taken very largely outside by gilling. 

 Eor this purjiose two boats, each with 450 yards of netting meet, and unite 

 the ends of their respective nets, and then, moving in opposite direc- 

 tions, pay out the nets, and then nearly meet with the outer eiuls, the 

 net formiug a semi-circle. Just before coming together, they turn inward 

 so as to form a helicoid-curve toward the net. Then, moving outside, 

 they endeavor to drive the schools of fish into the concavity of the net, 

 and thereby cause them to become gilled. 



Formerly, when they first appeared they were taken only in the bay, 

 but of later years, according to Captain Atwood, they luive become 

 hardy, stay later in the season, and are more frequently found on the 

 outer edge of the cape. 



About Nantucket the gill-nets are usually set in a nearly straight 

 line parallel with the shore ; and the fish, according to Mr. Snow, are 

 captured on the ebb tide. The nets are 25 to 50 fathoms long, and 

 from 30 to 50 meshes wide, the meshes varying from 4| to 4| inches^ 

 No. 15 or IG thread. The gill-nets sometimes lioat at the surface of the 

 water; sometimes are sunk nearly to the bottom, as already stated, the 

 season, the time of day, and time of tide all requiring to be taken into 

 account. 



At Newport, according to Mr. Tayloi^ (page 27,) the nets used in that 

 vicinity are 70 meshes deep, the mesh 4J inches. In these they are 

 taken about midwav, the weight of the fish varying from 2^ pounds to 

 7 or 8. ' ' 



The usual method of taking them with the line is by drailing or troll- 

 ing, this consisting in fastening a hook to from 20 to 50 fathoms of line, 

 the bait consisting simply of a bit of polished metal, which may be cast 

 around the base of the hook, or of a bit of bone or ivory similarly 

 placed. This is dragged rapidly through the water, under full sail, 

 Sometin}es the weighted hook is covered by a i)iece of inverted eel-skin, 

 one end of which is tied down over the leaded portion, and extending 

 nearly to the barb of the hook, witli a small piece generally play- 

 ing just beyond; the whole resembling a small shining fish, as it 

 moves rapidly through the water. They are sometimes, indeed, taken 

 with a bait of red fiaunel, or even a white rag; as, when ravenously in- 

 clined, they will snap at anything they see thus in ra[)id motion, especi- 

 ally if it has any resemblance to a moving fish. Menhaden or other 

 shining fish may also be used to advantage; but it is seldom thought 

 necessary to take this trouble. The shank of the hook, or metal fasten- 

 ing, must be snfticieutly long to prevent the blue fish, in their eager 

 haste to seize their prey, from cutting the cord, as they would bite 

 through it almost with the i)recision of a pair of nipi)ers. Indeed, the 

 end of the line is sometimes connected with the hook by means of a 



