XXXII -A REPORT ON THE HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION 

 OF THE SHORE COD-FISHERIES OF CAPE ANN, MASS., TO- 

 GETHER WITH NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY AND ARTI- 

 FICIAL PROPAGATION OF THE SPECIES. 



By R. E. Earll. 



A.— INTRODUCTIOK 



The recent inquiry into the decrease of the food-fishes of the east 

 coast of the United States by the United States Commission of Fish 

 and Fisheries, under the direction of the commissioner, Prof. Spencer 

 F. Baird, has led to the establishment of temj^orary stations at different 

 points along the coast, where special attention has been given to the study 

 of the more important species for the purpose of gathering definite in- 

 formation of their relative numbers past and present, their geographi- 

 cal distribution, and their habits. Of late the commercial importance 

 of what might be styled the great ocean fisheries, together with the 

 complicated questions that are continually arising between our own 

 government and our more northern neighbor regarding them, has led 

 Professor Baird to give particular attention to this subject, with a view 

 to becoming more thoroughly acquainted, not only with the habits and 

 movements of these species, but also the methods emjjloyed in their cap- 

 ture and the extent and money- value of the fisheries. 



With this end in view, he selected Gloucester, Mass., as the most suit- 

 able location for the Commission in 1878, where he arrived with his 

 assistants early in July, and at once began the investigation of the sub- 

 ject. During the summer much valuable information was gathered 

 relating to the extent of the fisheries, and many observations were made 

 on the natural history of the difierent species. However, as this was 

 not the spawning season for the difierent members of the cod family, 

 the only obtainable information on the habits of the fish during this 

 period was from the fishermen, who are usually not considered very 

 accurate scientific observers. 



After a careful consideration of the subject, it was decided to continue 

 the station through the winter, in order to study the natural history of 

 the sj^awuing fish, that visit the shore in immense numbers at this time, 

 and also to make experiments with the eggs of the cod and other species, 

 with a view to their artificial propagation. Accordingly^, the late James 

 W. ]\Iilner, deputy commissioner, proceeded to Gloucester, to take 

 charge of the work and to i)repare a report on the whole subject. Mr. 



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