THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



Iii the present work I propose to give some account, as far as known, 

 of the more important fishes of the Eastern United States north of 

 Delaware Bay, together with an account of the methods by which they 

 are pursued, captured, and utilized, as also of their application, with 

 some statistical tables illustrating the results of the fisheries in the 

 region referred to. For the better elucidation of the subject, I also 

 propose to embrace a reference to corresponding fisheries in Europe 

 and other parts of the world, so far as these throw light upon the 

 American species. 



A limitation of the subject to the region north of Delaware Bay is 

 made, partly in view of the fact that the fisheries of that region are 

 much more important in an economical point of view, and can be better 

 monographed at present, and partly because this is the portion of 

 Eastern North America which is embraced in the Washington treaty 

 and of which the information referred to is needed for the proper con- 

 sideration of the international, political, and economical treatment of 

 the subject.* 



* In confining attention in the present article specially to the suhject of the fish- 

 eries of the region covered by the treaty of Washington, it is not to be supposed that 

 there are no productive fisheries on a large scale further south, the contrary being 

 quite the fact. No portion of the globe exceeds the Southern and Gulf coasts of the 

 United States in the number and variety of excellent food-fish, their waters teeming 

 with them throughout the year and permitting their capture, especially in the 

 cooler seasons, to almost any imaginable extent. A few hours' labor, either with 

 the line, the cast-net, the gill-net, or the seine, suffices to supply the fisherman with 

 food for days; and the introduction of the wholesale means of capture (pounds and 

 traps not yet attempted) will probably produce uo appreciable effect upon the sup- 

 ply. 



Among the species which may be mentioned in this connection are the menhaden, 

 bluefish, and mullet, all of which yield important fisheries in North Carolina, Vir- 

 ginia, and farther south. The menhaden is taken in great numbers and salted in 

 barrels, being considered a very desirable article of food. 



The bluefish spends several months on the Southern coast after leaving the North- 

 ern and Middle States, and is found of very great size — from 12 to 16 pounds. Dur- 

 ing the late autumn and early winter vast numbers of these are shipped to the 

 Northern markets, where they find a ready demand. I find a memorandum that on 

 the 20th of November, 1872, three thousand bluefish, averaging 12 pounds each, or 

 36,000 pounds altogether, were shipped from a single fishing station in North Carolina. 



13 



