48 



Hon. N. E. ATWOOD of Provincetown, a member of the State Sen- 

 ate, was present, and by invitation from the Chair presented some 

 remarks on the habits of several of our marketable fishes, with 

 especial reference to their respective abundance or scarcity in our 

 markets. 



He stated that in reference to the petitions sent to the Legislature 

 remonstrating against the over-fishing in our bays, he did not agree 

 with the facts set forth by them, and that in his opinion the different 

 species of fishes decrease and increase without regard to the methods 

 practised for their capture, citing as instances the haddock which 

 had steadily increased, and the halibut which had decreased. In the 

 case of the haddock he considered it probable that the troll took not 

 only the haddock but a great number of fish which fed upon their 

 spawn, thereby giving the haddock greater chances to increase. He 

 also spoke of the change in the habits of some of our fishes and the 

 methods of capturing them. In regard to the mackerel, the former 

 method used in catching them was by dragging hooks on lines twenty 

 fathoms long and constantly raising and lowering them ; now they 

 are caught at the surface with bait, large quantities of which are 

 strewn alongside to attract them. Formerly all the cod on the Banks 

 of Newfoundland were caught on board of the vessels while lying at 

 anchor, each man using two lines ; when the fish were abundant all 

 the men would fish, but usually not more than half of the crew; at 

 times, when no fish could be taken, all the lines but one would be 

 drawn in, and they would begin to be taken abundantly; but let two 

 or more begin to drop their lines, and not an individual would be 

 taken ; while, should all the lines but one be again taken in the cap- 

 tures would once more be frequent. This suggested the idea of car- 

 rying small boats with them so that each man could fish apart from 

 the others, and in this they met with perfect success. 



Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs. Upham and Atwood for 

 their interesting communications. 



Charles H. Miller of Salem, was elected a resident member. 



Mr. F. W. PUTNAM read a communication in relation to Capt. C. F. 

 Hall's third expedition to the Arctic Eegions, expressing the opinion 

 that the proposed voyage and sledge journeys, if undertaken upon 

 a proper and extended basis, would prove of vast importance in 

 obtaining the solution of sevaral scientific problems and establishing 

 beyond doubt many important points relating to the geography of 

 these regions ; and concluding with a series of resolutions ; which 

 were adopted. 



