40 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [38] 
65. Are there inspection laws in force in your State and at your pore? 
66. 'To what markets are your salted fish carried ? 
67. Can you estimate the quantity of mackerel taken by boat-fishermen 
in your vicinity for home consumption ? 
NAME OF CORRESPONDENT: 
ADDRESS: 
DATE OF COMMUNICATION: 
(29.) 
QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE ALEWIFE AND THE 
ALEWIFE FISHERIES.* 
OFFICE OF U.S. COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES, 
Washington, D. C. 
* Among the most valuable of the fish of the eastern coast of North 
America is the Pomolobus pseudo-harengus or fresh-water herring, which 
enters the mouths of rivers early in the spring, a little in advance of the 
shad, and ascends the waters to a greater or less extent, usually known 
as the herring south of Long Island. It is called alewife throughout 
the greater portion of New England, and gaspereau in the British Prov- 
inces. 
For the purpose of eliciting such information as may be procurable 
relative to the alewife the present circular has been prepared by Mr. 
Charles G. Atkins, of the United States Fish Commission, who has been 
charged with the preparation of a report on the subject, to be based in 
great measure on the answers to be received. 
Replies should be made, when possible, on foolscap paper, and writ- 
ten on one side only of the leaf. The questions need not be repeated, 
but reference made merely to their number, respectively. 
Replies should be addressed to United States Fish Commission, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 
SPENCER F. BAIRD, 
Commissioner. 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Washington, D. C. 
Questions relative to the alewife, river herrmg, or gaspereau (Pomo- 
lobus pseudo-harengus). 
A.—Name and varieties. 
_1. By which name is the fish known in your neighborhood? 
2. Does there appear to be more than one variety? Ifso, what names 
*These same questions may be applied to the shad and other fishes of the herring 
family, also to the mullet and striped bass. 
