60 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
reported in the history of the fishery. In May and June, 1915, the 
drift hand-line fisherman landed good fares from the same grounds, 
but as in 1914 there was a scarcity of fish on Georges Bank, and only 
i few fish were taken there by vessels fitted with trawl lines and hand 
ines. 
Haddock.—The haddock fishery in 1914 was carried on with suc- 
cess, the product being 57,754,128 pounds, valued at $1,381,156, 
against 53,672,665 pounds, valued at $1,488,356, in 1913, an increase of 
over 4,000,000 pounds, but a decrease of $107,200. The principal 
banks resorted to were Browns, Georges, South Channel, and the 
grounds off Chatham, although considerable fishing was done on 
Middle Bank and other shore grounds. The amount of haddock 
caught on Georges Bank and in South Channel was over 8,000,000 
pounds less than in 1913, but the catch on Browns was nearly 3,200,006 
pounds greater, and there was an increase of 10,800,000 pounds from 
the shore grounds off Chatham. Vessels visiting the Chatham 
grounds in summer fish night and day, weather permitting, and the 
pleasant weather prevailing the greater part of this period in 1914 
no doubt accounted for the remarkable increase in the catch. 
Pollock.—The pollock fishery, owing to the introduction of purse 
seines, has in recent years been conducted on a much larger scale than 
formerly. Although a considerable quantity of pollock is caught by 
trawlers and hand-line fishermen on the offshore banks, a large por- 
tion of the fresh product landed is caught in purse seines operated 
from small steamers and gasoline boats on the inshore grounds. In 
1914 the quantity of pollock landed at Boston and Gloucester was 
12,454,723 pounds, valued at $199,736. Compared with 1913 the 
catch fell short 2,812,678 pounds in quantity and $61,821 in value. 
The pollock-seining fleet in May and June, 1915, brought in many 
large fares. These vessels catch also other fish in their season, among 
which are alewives or bluebacks, which are used chiefly for bait in 
the line-trawl market fishery. In 1914 the blueback catch amounted 
to 1,652,350 pounds, 8,250 pounds less than in 1913 and over 600,000 
pounds less than in 1912. 
Halibut.—There was a decrease in the catch of halibut on the At- 
lantic coast in 1914 of nearly 2,000,000 pounds as compared with the 
previous year. In the spring of 1915 several large fares of halibut 
were taken on various banks, which led to an increase in the fleet, and 
in April there were 33 vessels engaged in this fishery. The fletched 
halibut-fleet fishing in northern regions, namely, Greenland and 
Davis Strait, has greatly decreased in the last few years, only two 
vessels having sailed for those grounds last season. 
During a part of the year the Coast Guard steamer Androscoggin, 
recently converted into a hospital ship, has rendered excellent service 
in caring for the sick fishermen on the fishing banks. Medical aid has 
been given to Canadian as well as to American fishermen. 
THE OTTER-TRAWL FISHERY. 
The investigation of the otter-trawl fishery, which had been in 
progress since June, 1912, was brought to a close by the submittal of 
ea final report thereon in January, 1915. This report, the work of a 
special committee of Bureau officials, was forwarded to Congress on 
January 22, referred to the House Committee on the Merchant Marine 
