THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 189 



them, and I don't think it would be expedient to prohibit them. I think a certain, 

 amount of regulation, such as I have recommended, would bo a great deal better for 

 the fish and the fishermen. The disadvantage of the pounds is that they glut the 

 market at times, so that there is no sale for the fish and fish are wasted, and by the 

 adoption of a close time not only will it secure proper spawning of the fish, but also 

 equalize consumption. 



Q. There were some matters with regard to herring, in regard to which I did not 

 ask you fully yesterday. Will you state to the Commission about the spawning- 

 grounds of herring especially? I do not care for anything outside of the American 

 coast. — A. The herring spawn along the whole coast of the United States, from 

 the Bay of Fundy to No Man's Laud, which is a small island between Block Island 

 and Martha's Vineyard. I have specimens of spawn from almost all the localities be- 

 tween those two points, aud I am informed they also spawn around Block Island; 

 but I have never seen auy evidence myself. 



Q. But you know as to the fact ? — A. I know it is so from testimony and reports. 

 Q. Do the eggs of the herring lodge on the bottom ?— A. The herring is almost the 

 one — is, I think, the only one — of our important sea fish the eggs of which are adher- 

 ent ; that is to say, when discharged, it falls to the bottom aud adheres to the sea- 

 weed, gravel, and rock. Generally it is scattered ; but not unfrequently a great part 

 of the spawn of the fish will be aggregated into a mass of the size of a walnut or 

 hickory nut, but more generally they are scattered and attached singly or by twos 

 and threes to sea- weed. I have here specimens of the eggs in the adherent form, some 

 of which I dragged up at the southern end of Grand Manan. 



Q. Are the spawning-grounds extended, along the coast all the way? — A. Yes; all 

 the way. 



Q. And are very numerous ? — A. There is no reason to suppose there is any part of 

 the coast at which they are wanting. They are specially abuudant about Cutler, in 

 Maiue, and about some of the islands off Penobscot Bay, about Cape Elizabeth, Ports- 

 mouth, off Newburyport, and particularly along the edge of the coast from north and 

 east of the entrance of Massachusetts Bay. They also spawn inside of Cape Cod Bay, 

 and all along tho south coast of this region to No Man's Land, as I have already men- 

 tioned. The spawning season is later and later as you go south. On the coast of the 

 United States the herring spawns on the fall of the temperature, just as the salmon, 

 cod, and trout do — unlike the shad and mackerel, which spawn at a rising tempera- 

 ture. The moment the water along our coast gets to a certain degree of temperature, 

 then the herring is incited to the act of spawning. I might say in completion of this 

 point that herring spawns in the spring in Bay St. Lawrence and Newfoundland. It 

 spawns in early summer at Grand Mauan in July, August, and September. It spawns 

 at the end of September in Eastern Maine, and it spawns in October off Boston, and 

 does not spawn until November and sometimes December at No Man's Land. 



Q. Making a difference of many months? — A. Yes; a difference of from six to eight 

 months. 



Q. Describe the modes by which herring are caught on the coast of the United 

 States. — A. They are caught principally by weirs, pounds, and gill-nets on our coast. 

 They are caught with seines largely in Bay St. Lawrence and Newfoundland ; but 

 the large, full-grown, spaw T niug herring are usually taken in gill-nets on or near the 

 spawning-ground. A very large number are taken on the whole coast of Maine and 

 in the Bay of Fundy in weirs ; but the great body of these are smaller herring, and 

 are not used as fresh fish. 



Q. How is it with weir-fishing ? — A. The weir-fishing is generally conducted in 

 Maine, and to some extent inside of Capo Cod to the north. South of Cape Cod they 

 are more generally taken in pounds, but also in gill-nets. 



Q. How are they taken along the Massachusetts coast? — A. They are taken, gen- 

 erally, in gill-nets m the fall. The regular pounds are usually not down as lata as 

 the herring season, but in spring large numbers are taken in the pounds. 



