508 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



cannot be successfully used in the sardine fisheries of the United States, as the herring refuse to 

 follow them to the surface, so that they cannot be attracted in large schools and secured by means 

 of the purse-seines, which would, of course, be a very desirable way of catching them. Again, 

 the observations made during the experiments lead us to believe that the fish give so little atten- 

 tion to this food that it could not be profitably employed in connection with gill-nets, the method 

 commonly employed in France. Some other method must therefore be adopted for overcoming the 

 difficulty already mentioned. 



THE LACK OF CONSTANT SUPPLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE METHODS OF FISHING RATHER THAN 



SCARCITY OF FISH. Small herring are undoubtedly abundant during a greater part of the year 

 in the principal channels, but weirs cannot be built for them on account of the deep water. The 

 difficulty then is to find some way of taking the herring there, or of drawing them into the coves 

 and harbors along the shore. If they could be attracted by bait and the purse-seine could be used 

 in their capture there would be no difficulty, and the supply would be regular. Our sardine inter- 

 ests would then be on an equal footing with those of France. The experiments with fish-eggs, if 

 properly conducted, show that herring will not rise to bait. Furthermore, the tides are so strong 

 about Eastport that the purse-seine would be wholly unmanageable, except "in the slacks" or in 

 the coves, and dip nets to be used without seines, in order to be serviceable, must be so large that 

 the fish would be frightened away before any considerable number could be secured. 



THE USE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS SUGGESTED. The method of torching suggests to the writer 

 an idea that might be made practicable. The herring have long been known to be attracted by 

 and even to eagerly follow a bright light. Perhaps an electric light, or some other of great bril- 

 liancy, might be made to answer the place of bait ; it would certainly be less expensive, and would 

 affect as large or even a larger area of water. After the fish had been drawn together they might 

 easily be led toward the shore, where they could readily be surrounded by haul or purse-seines 

 and secured, or, on the slacks, purse-seines- could be successfully used in the channels. By the use 

 of this method, together with the pocket suggested by Mr. McLain, there seems no reason why the 

 seasons of scarcity may not be fully overcome and a regular and constant supply be furnished to 

 the canneries, thus rendering the business more profitable, and enabling the manufacturers to give 

 steady employment to their help. 



4. PREPARATION OF THE FISB. 



THE BUILDINGS. The canneries are located on some convenient wharf, where they may be 

 easily reached by the herring boats. They are usually large two-story wooden structures, built of 

 ordinary material, and finished off only in so far as is necessary for the work. Each has a large 



attempt was made as the boat drifted about, but with no better success. Again, in passing among the numerous 

 small islands, with weirs on every hand, another trial was made, but with like results. 



By this time the tide was nearly full, and leaving the vessel we proceeded in a small boat toward the shore, where 

 herring were "breaking." Here the fish could occasionally be seen swimming about under the boat, apparently giv- 

 ing no attention to the bait that was being thrown. At high-water a large weir was visited. Here herring could be 

 distinctly seen swimming about near the bottom, but they seemed quite indifferent to the bait, and, if they ate it at 

 all, could not be induced to follow it to the surface. 



The following day the ebb-tide was selected for the experiments, and proceeding in another direction from that 

 previously taken we kept throwing the bait while under sail, and while lying to, both in the channels and near the 

 shore. In neither case were the fish induced to " rise." 



An hour before low water, one of the weirs, where several hogsheads of herring were confined, was visited, and 

 the boat was " dropped down" over them by means of a long painter fastened to the shore, after which the bait was 

 thrown out. Though the herring undoubtedly ate more or less of the food when they came in contact with it, they 

 would not follow it to the surface, and even refused to remain long in its path as the tide carried it through the 

 brush. In order to be positive that they had swallowed some of the food, a number were examined after the weir 

 had been seined, and a small number of eggs, together with small Crustacea and other food, were found in their stomachs. 



