92 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



that the blnefish drive the fatback south in winter, but I have learned 

 differently during the past season from personal observation, which the 

 following fact strongly attests. The menhaden came three days in ad- 

 vance of the bluefish, and entered the sound at all the principal inlets, 

 and made their way directly for the fresh-water rivers. They could be 

 seen as numerous in the sound heading north as they were in the sea 

 heading south. Furthermore, by a letter from a gentleman of Ply- 

 mouth, N. C, I learn that they passed that place, eight miles above the 

 mouth of the Roanoke, in five days after passing this station ; and, by 

 another letter from Windsor, 38 to 40 miles above the entrance, I hear 

 that they arrived there as early as the 18th of December. Thus it may 

 be readily seen that the bluefish are not the cause of the fatback com- 

 ing south. I would sooner think that the fatback caused the bluefish 

 to come south in winter, as they generally follow in the sea, and among 

 the last of the run of fatback. 



"Last year there were not so many of the menhaden, but there were 

 millions of young spot about two years old; but, however, this winter 

 there was not a spot to be seen." 



Dr. H. C. Yarrow found enormous schools of very small menhaden 

 about Fort Macon, :N. C, December 31, 1871. 



Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A., states that they appear in great numbers 

 about the harbor at Fort Macon, N. C, in spring and summer.* 



On the coast of Florida. 



116. In the Saint John's Eiver, Florida, the menhaden are more abun- 

 dant than any other fish, and apj)arently on the increase. They clog 

 the shad-nets in the spring. • 



Summation of evidence. 



117. The statements above quoted seem to indicate that the menha- 

 den is by far the most abundant fish on the eastern coast of the United 

 States. There is, moreover, no evidence whatever of any decrease in 

 their numbers. They are apparently quite as abundant as any species 

 on the eastern coast of the United States, not even excepting the cod, 

 herring, and mackerel. There are, however, no data for definite com- 

 I)arison, nor is there any means of determining the ratio of increase or 

 decrease within a given period of years. The same must be said regard- 

 ing the effects of the wholesale capture going on every year on certain 

 parts of the coast, for the present perfection of fishing apparatus and 

 the skill of the fishermen is likely to prevent any apparent diminution 

 in the yearly returns of the fisheries, even though the species be gradu- 

 ally approaching extinction. It is quite evident that with the improved 

 methods now in use a much larger proportion of the fish frequenting 

 any given body of water may be taken than was formerly possible. 



* Notes ou the uatural history of Fort Macou, N. C. <Proc. Phil. Acadeoiy of Nat- 

 ural Sciences. 



