THE BLUE-FISH. I 83 



them as by destroying the squid upon which the latter for- 

 merly subsisted. 



He is also of the opinion that the Mackerel, once, for a 

 time, were affected by them. The Mackerel have since 

 returned to those waters in their wonted numbers, but the 

 Blue-fish are not now sufficiently plenty north of Cape Cod 

 to interfere with them. The flight of the Mackerel is not an 

 unmitigated evil, however, since, as Capt. Atwood pointed 

 out, the number of lobsters for a time was very considerably 

 increased. The Mackerel fed upon their eggs, and when 

 they were driven away by the Blue-fish the lobsters had a bet- 

 ter chance to multiply. 



The Blue-fish sometimes make their way up the rivers to 

 a considerable distance, the adults, however, apparently never 

 entering the perfectly fresh water. They are found in the 

 Potomac as far north as Acquia Creek, and also far up the 

 Hudson; indeed, the young of the year are taken as high as 

 Sing Sing on the Hudson and in other tidal rivers, where 

 the water is entirely fresh. 



Summing up all the evidence in regard to the periodical 

 appearance of the Blue-fish, we find notice of its occurrence in 

 1672, or even 1659, and up to 1764. How long it existed in 

 the waters prior to that date cannot now be determined. The 

 oral testimony of Mr. Parker refers to its occurrence at 

 Wood's Holl in 1780 or 1790; and it is mentioned by Mr. 

 Smith as being at New York in 1 800, and at Edgartown, Mass. , 

 about the same time, by Capt. Pease. Mitchell testifies to 

 its occurrence in New York, of very small size, in 18 10; and 

 it is recorded as existing again in Nantucket in 1820, and 

 about Wood's Holl and Buzzard's Bay in 1 830 to 1 83 1 , and a 

 little later at Hyannis. In 1830 it had become abundant 

 about Nantucket, and in the fall of 1837 it was first noticed 

 in Massachusetts Bay, and then year by year it became more 

 and more numerous, until now it is very abundant. Several 



