46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Not much iuforaiation is to be found in the various publications hith- 

 erto made relative to the fish and fisheries of Eastern North America, 

 although some facts of value are contained in the writings of Gilpin, 

 Perley, Ambrose, Storer, and others.* 



C— KELATIONSHIPS AND SURROUNDINGS. 



Fishes considered collectively or by groups. — Although each 

 species of fish on our coasts may be considered as possessing some pecu- 

 liar habit or combination of habits by which it is distinguished from 

 its fellows, they may be, for convenience of consideration, divided into 

 groups, all the members of which possess certain common peculiarities, 

 having an important bearing upon the methods and times of their pur- 

 suit and capture. These relation ships are, to some extent interrupted 

 by the reproductive instinct, which causes them to change their ordi- 

 nary location and to assume new conditions. They are also affected by 

 the exigencies of feeding, of pursuit by other animals or by man, or by 

 the variations in their physical surroundings. 



Deferring to a subsequent part of the chapter any consideration of 

 the migrations and movements of the various species, we may arrange 

 marine fish in certain groups, as follows : 



a.. The inshore fish, or those found within a short distance (some- 

 times miles) from the shores. These embrace a great variety of species, 

 generally of small size and finding their harbor and shelter among 

 rocks and stones, sea- weeds, eel-grass, &c. They are fish that can be 

 taken from beaches, rocks, and wharves, or small boats from the shore, 

 and furnish more occupation and amusement than actual profit in their 

 capture. They are also among those most frequently taken in weirs, 

 pounds, and fykes. Among them may be mentioned various Cyprino- 

 donts, the cunner, the spearing or friar, the young Clupeids, the sea 

 bass, the tautog, the scup, and many other species of less note. 



These fish furnish an important article of food, but obtainable only 

 by considerable effort ; and being generally of small size, do not yield 

 a very generous return. Some of the species, as the scup, in former 

 years were, however, in such abundance on the south coast of New Eng- 

 land that hundreds of pounds could easily be taken in a short time. 



b. The offshore fish. — These are species which usually occupy greater 

 depths, and are i'ouud at remoter distances from the shore than those 

 first mentioned, being generally found on the banks or elevations in 

 deeper water. 



The greater portion of the Gadidce or cod family, such as the cod, had- 

 dock, hake, &c, belong here ; as also the halibut. This group is the 

 most important of our coast-fishes, being usually of large size and occur- 



* This section of the report as prepared at Halifax I have concluded to omit until a 

 new digest of our knowledge of the subject can be prepared, so much information 

 having been obtained in reference to the habits of our fishes since 1877 as to render 

 it obsolete , 



