HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 459 



7. They swim both high and low; when high, with their heads out. 



8. They come from the south, moving along slowly with the tides j 

 up in the spring and down in the fall. 



9. There is sometimes a scarcity, but never a failure. 



10. They do scare them badly. 



11. They come into creeks with the flood and go out with the ebb j 

 sometimes, however, they come in at night. 



12. Generally deep water; however, they sometimes work inshore on 

 the flood tide. 



13. A depth of 10 or 12 feet is preferred. They swim on the top of 

 the water. 



14. Cold weather makes them torpid. 



15. Seldom, and the sizes go in separate schools. 



16. They are never seen on the coast, but are in the sounds, rivers, 

 creeks, and bays. 



17. They begin to leave during the latter part of August, and the first 

 to leave are the best; some remain until the middle of October. 



18. By a southern route. 



20. They feed on a slimy substance which comes from the bottom ; it 

 looks like a discoloration of the water, but is composed of vegetable or 

 animal matter; the large bodies break into small ones at night and go 

 near shore; in the morning they gather again and go out. 



21. At the heads of rivers and creeks, and near fresh water. They 

 spawn in June and July. 



2^. The water must be warm. 

 26. 1 think they float. 



28. They are found in abundance in shoal water, where the fresh and 

 salt water mingle. 



29. No. 



30. Bluefish and porpoises destroy them, but the parent fish do not. 



31. Crab-lice are found in the gills, and there is a five-pronged insect, 

 which makes a sore, seen in the tail ; we call these insects gra[)liugs. 



32. They sufier greatly, but are very active; the bluefish is their 

 worst enemy. 



33. Never knew of it. 



34. Haul-seines, purse-nets, gill-nets, and weirs. 



35. Haul-seines are 100 fathoms long and 8 feet deep ; nets are 200 

 fathoms long, and from 18 to 20 feet deep. 



36. Barges are mostly employed, and vessels of from 10 to 20 tons 

 burden. 



37. Twelve men for j)urse-nets and 25 for haul-seines ; one man for 

 gill-nets. 



38. All hours of the day and night. Gilling is done at night. 



39. No. 



40. Yes ; it scatters and sends them down deep. 



41. Five vessels averaging about 15 tons, and 5 barges. 



