[35] PLAN OF INQUIRY FOR FISHERY CENSUS. on 
A.—Name. 
1. Are there names for any special varieties and schools of mackerel ? 
2. What names are used fort he young mackerel at different stages of 
growth? 
B.— Characteristics. 
SIZE. 
3. What is the length and weight of the largest mackerel ? 
4, Are the mackerel now caught larger or smaller than those of five, 
ten, or fifteen years ago? 
5. Is there any difference in the size of males and females? 
SHAPE AND COLOR. 
6. Are there differences in different fish, in the shape and color of 
body, head, fins, and other parts? Can you describe them? 
7. Have you ever observed a film over the eyes of the mackerel? If 
so, at what season of the year? Does it make them blind? Why do 
you think so? 
: C.— Migrations and movements. 
Ld 
8. At what date did the mackerel appear in your vicinity in 1878? 
Was this earlier or later than usual ? 
9. At what date were the first mackerel taken by the southern fleet 
in 1878? Was this earlier or later than usual? 
10. At what date did the mackerel disappear in 1878? Was this 
earlier or later than usual ? 
11. Have mackerel ever been taken in winter in your vicinity? Can 
you give dates and circumstances ? 
12. Where do mackerel go in winter? For what purpose ? 
13. When the mackerel appear in the spring, do they come at once or 
in separate schools? How long are the intervals between the schools? 
Are the first largest ? . 
14. Do the schools swim high or low? Do they make a ripple on the 
water? Do they attract birds? If so, what kinds? Do they attract 
other fish, porpoises, or whales? 
15. By what route do they come in to the coast, and what are their 
subsequent movements ? 
16. Is their appearance on the coast regular and certain, or do they 
ever fail for one or more seasons at a time, and then return in greater 
abundance? If so, what is the reason? 
17. Are their movements affected by the ebb and flow of the tide? 
18. What are the favorite localities of these fish ? 
19. What depth of water is preferred by these fish, and how low do 
they swim ? 
20. How far from the shore have they been seen? 
