126 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



lantic fishermen, and I therefore proceed to a more detailed consider- 

 ation of the standard articles of supply for bait, consisting especially 

 of fishes, crustaceans, and inollusks. 



In the portion of the report devoted to the methods and apparatus 

 of fishiug practiced in the Eastern United States and the British Prov- 

 inces some allusion has been made to the subject of bait for the hand 

 and long lines, but it may be well to review the subject in a more sys- 

 tematic manner, beginning with the enumeration of the following as 

 the more prominent substances used : 



1. Menhaden. 8. Squid. 



2. Alewives. • 9. Whelks. 



3. Sea Herring. 10. Clams. 



4. Mackerel. 11. Mussels, oysters, and scallops. 



5. Capeliu. 12. Lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and 



6. Sundry species of less note. other crustaceans. 



7. Eoes of various fishes, especially 



of cod and mackerel. 



Other varieties of animal substances are used as bait under particu- 

 lar circumstances and in particular localities ; but those just mentioned 

 are of most economical value, and the possibility of obtaining one or 

 other of them in greater or less abundance constitutes a very important 

 factor to the fisheries of the mackerel, the cod, the halibut, and other 

 species. 



Of the species mentioned, the menhaden is at present peculiar to the 

 shores of the United States, while the fifth, or capelin, is found only 

 about Newfoundland, on the coast and islands of the Bay of Saint 

 Lawrence, and the coast of Labrador. Dr. Gilpin refers to the occurrence 

 of capelin in Halifax Harbor one season ; but it is unknown as a regu. 

 lar visitant there, nor has it ever been positively noticed even as an 

 occasional visitant of the Bay of Fundy. 



The special details in regard to the natural history and character of 

 the fishes just enumerated belong in the chapter on the natural history 

 and economy of the several American species, and are merely alluded 

 to briefly in this special connection as bait. 



In the very great variety of fish bait, and its occurrence at the vari- 

 ous seasons of the year at different points, all portions of the United 

 States and the Provinces may be considered as equally well provided 

 in this respect; and although circumstances may render the procuring 

 of this bait in a particular locality a convenience, yet it can be easily 

 shown that whatever be the restrictions upon either country as to par- 

 ticular localities, there can be no question as to the possibility of se- 

 curing an ample supply in some other, although possibly at somewhat 

 greater trouble and expense. 



(1) Menhaden. — Of all the species mentioned as used for bait the 

 menhaden is probably that of most importance, whether we consider 

 its wide extent of distribution, its overwhelming abundance along the 



