CHAPTER XX. 



THE NEW DISPENSATION OF FISHES. 



IN the middle of last April, when the incoming steamers from Europe re- 

 ported icebergs adrift off the New Foundland Banks, sagacious minds predicted 

 marine phenomena of marked character. The presence of these bergs two months 

 in advance of their usual appearance indicated warm weather in the polar zone, 

 as well as the projection of an Arctic current into a portion of the South Atlantic 

 hitherto dominated by the Gulf Stream. Subsequent investigations by intelligent 

 sailing masters discovered that the Gulf Stream had been so encroached upon by 

 a cold current as to force it 600 miles out of its course. As this influx of ice 

 water showed a temperature of 32, it became easy to account for the long and 

 backward spring, the cold, foggy and rainy weather which beset our eastern coast 

 line until as recently as the 1st of June. Its effect was seriously felt as far south 

 as the Capes of Delaware. Furthermore, it was a logical inference that such 

 great changes must exert an important effect upon the marine fauna, introducing 

 new species from the northern seas, and perhaps temporarily driving off some 

 species long recognized as local and indigenous to the waters whose temperature 

 had been thus suddenly chilled. Another natural consequence would be to intro- 

 duce vast supplies of fish food in new variety, to replenish a very sensible deple- 

 tion long since discovered to exist upon the old feeding grounds of our best 

 known commercial fishes,, and thereby to invite their return to those resorts long 

 frequented by the fishing fleets. Present results are justifying these conclusions. 



For a dozen years past there has been a marked dearth of cod, mackerel, 

 herring and other varieties of fish, with poor fares and indifferent catches all 

 along the shore and banks. Causes visible and unknown combined to produce this 

 depletion. Fishermen had almost begun to despair of success, and were preparing 

 to seek other employments, when, by one of those opportune operations of nature 

 which can seldom be anticipated, fortune suddenly rolled in on the flood tide of 

 the Arctic current ; and now they are finding abundance instead of dearth. All 

 vessels are coming in with full fares, bringing reports of fish crowding the ledges 

 and marine meadows of their old haunts, and carrying joy all along the coast 

 where livelihoods are gained by the hook and trawl. Bluefish. weakfish, mackerel, 

 cod, striped bass, halibut, and nearly all varieties are being caught a month earlier 

 than usual, and instead of striking at successive points along the coast as has been 

 their habit, and working their way from southern waters to points northward, 

 they seem to have invaded the whole coast simultaneously from Nova Scotia to 

 the Chesapeake. 



No doubt a change of water and a change of temperature will work out other 

 results equally beneficial and less expected. As has been intimated, species whose 

 habitat has been restricted to other localities, are likely to be taken on new 

 grounds hitherto unfrequented by them. Their distribution will be widely 

 extended. Possibly the lobster, now so nearly exterminated, will reappear in 

 increased size and numbers. Even the gigantic marine fauna the norwhal, the 

 whale, the sea lion and the walrus may return to the haunts they frequented 

 three hundred years ago, and their presence as far south as Long Island Sound 



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