COD-FISHERIES OF CAPE ANN. '691 



this seemingly accidental variation, that gives every gradation to either 

 extreme, there is a more constant difference in both form and color, due 

 perhaps to the peculiar habits and surroundings of the individual. This 

 difference is so noticeable that the fishermen can easily distinguish the 

 one from the other, and they have come to call the one a school-fish in 

 distinction from the other, which they call a shore -fish or "ground- 

 tender." • 



The school-fish are supposed to be constantly on the move, remaining 

 usually in the deep water, where they are very active in the jmrsuit of 

 their prey, consuming such quantities as to keep them in excellent flesh. 

 Such fish are usually very shapely, with small and very distinct dark 

 spots on a light background, and seem to have the head quite small in 

 proportion to the body. On the whole, they are just such fish as would 

 be expected from continued acti"vdty and good living. On the other 

 hand, the shore-fish, or " ground-tenders," live constantly among the 

 rocks and sea- weeds along the shore, where the water is less pure and 

 the food less abundant. They seem to lead solitary lives during a greater 

 part of the year, being scattered along different portions of the coast, 

 living upon the little rocky spots, where they feed ujion such animals as 

 they chance to find ; or at times entering the shoaler water among the 

 sea-weeds, where they feed upon the mollusks and articulates that are 

 often so abundant in such localities. They are generally in poorer flesh 

 than the school-fish, having a relati\'ely larger head in proi)ortion to 

 thek bulk, with larger and less distinct spots on a darker background. 

 In addition to these large fish, that for some reason seem to j)refer the 

 shore as a feeding-ground, there are many young and immature that 

 have not yet joined the school-fish in their migrations. These fish are 

 the sole dependence of the boat-fishermen in summer, or from June to 

 November, and one must know the grounds pretty thoroughly, and row 

 about from one feeding spot to another, in order to secure any consider- 

 able number of them. Diuing the months of June, July, and August, 

 the fishing is quite limited, being confined to a few boat-fishermen who 

 row or sail out daily with hand-hues, returning in the afternoon with 

 from 150 to 300 pounds, which they usually sell at fair prices to supply 

 the fresh-fish trade. 



Early in the fall the spawning instincts of the fish cause them to grad- 

 ually gather from the different i)arts of the shore to special rocky 

 grounds, where they remain until they have deposited their eggs. At 

 such times, being more numerous in these localities, the fishing becomes 

 more profitable, so that many small vessels and a larger number of boats 

 frequent these grounds, and by the middle of October the daily catch 

 reaches about 400 pounds per man. 



Thus far the catch has been composed almost wholly of the young and 

 shore fish ; but about the 1st of November the fall school of spawning- 

 fish, known as the " pasture-school," makes its appearance. All the 

 smaller vessels and boats are now pressed into service, and the winter 



