REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XVII 



market. The effect of the spring fishery niton the demand for and the 

 average price of salted mackerel caught later in .the season. As to 

 whether the continuance of the spring fishery is tending seriously to 

 affect the abundance of mackerel, or, as is often claimed, has any in- 

 fluence in breaking up or scattering the schools of fish. 



(2) The menhaden fishery. — The present extent and location of this 

 fishery. As to whether the methods of the fishery are in any way con- 

 nected with the continued absence or scarcity of menhaden on the New 

 England coast. 



(3) The sardine industry. — The statistics of the industry, and the 

 changes which have taken place in the methods of capture and of prep- 

 aration of the fish since the investigations of 1880. The influence of 

 the abrogation of the Treaty of Washington and of the proposed du- 

 ties upon the supply of fish and upon the cost of producing the canned 

 goods. 



(-1) The fisheries of the Great Lakes, respecting which a report, based 

 upon the investigations of 18S5, has nearly been completed. 



(5) A general and statistical review of the vessel fisheries of the 

 United States, material for which is being collected by means of circu- 

 lars filled out at the custom-houses located at fishing ports. 



(6) The compilation of national and State laws relating to the fisheries. 

 Mr. W. A. Wilcox was employed at Gloucester, Mass., during the 



entire year, as an agent of the Commission in collecting data relative 

 to the statistics and methods of the New England fisheries. He was 

 assisted by Capt. S. J. Martin, and rendered monthly reports which 

 have been published in the Fish Commission Bulletin for 1880". During 

 September and October the Senate Committee on Fisheries visited 

 Gloucester for the purpose of giving personal consideration to the dif- 

 ferent phases of the industry, and also took testimony of the fishermen. 

 The facilities of the station were placed at its disposal. 



The sturgeon fisheries of Delaware Bay and River were made the 

 subject of an investigation by Mr. S. G. Worth, who reported over two 

 hundred and fifty boats, carrying from 200 to 500 fathoms of net each, 

 engaged in the industry. Mr. Worth's inquiries also had reference to 

 the expediency of propagating sturgeon by artificial methods. The 

 statistics of the salmon canuiug establishments of the Pacific coast, from 

 1883 to 1880, were collected by Mr. Loren W. Green, an assistant at 

 the California stations of the Fish Commission. Mr. Green, in the course 

 of this work, visited all of the canneries of fish on the Sacramento River. 

 His report on the subject is contained in the Fish Commission Bulletin 

 for 1886. 



B. — The Mackerel Fishery during 1886. 



The following summary of the mackerel fishery for 18S6 was prepared 

 by Mr. W. A. Wilcox : 



Tbe work of the season began early, the first vessels sailing from Gloucester on 

 March 11. A large fleet was soon cruising off the Delaware coast. On March 28, the 

 S. Mis. 90 ii 



