THE SILVERSIDES OF THE GENUS MENIDIA. 243 
in countless numbers along sandy shores, in brackish creeks, channels, 
and estuaries. One species is found in the Potomac River as far up 
as Washington. 
To illustrate their abundance and the ease with which they can be 
caught, a few instances may be given: At one time a 15-foot bag 
seine (Baird collecting seine) was hauled at Morehead City, N. C., on 
asand bar. The bag, holding.a bushel or more, was filled at every 
haul. In an arm of Casco Bay, Me., a 75-foot seine of the same kind 
as the above was hauled in a muddy channel and 2 or 3 bushels taken 
at a haul; this called forth remonstrances from the inhabitants, who 
thought it an unwarranted slaughter of young smelts. 
Dr. Hugh M. Smith furnishes the following notes regarding the 
abundance of silverside at Woods Hole.during the summer of 1899: 
Menidia notata.—‘‘Brit.’’ This is one of the most abundant fishes of southern 
Massachusetts. It occurs in very large schools in Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay, 
and Nantucket Sound, usually associated with M. beryllina. In the Woods Hole 
region it appears in April, and is found until December. In November, when the 
schools seem to become larger and denser, the fish is exceedingly numerous in Great 
Harbor, about the wharves. Examples upwards of 6 inches long are common. 
Both species* of silversides are exceedingly abundant about wharves, and on sandy, 
gravelly, and sometimes grassy shores. At times the seine catch will consist of over 
95 per cent silversides; and no seine haul fails to contain some. On August 31, 1899, 
there were enormous schools along the eastern side of Vineyard Sound at Lambert 
Cove, and the seine was literally packed with them; one haul contained not less than 
20 bucketfuls of uniform size (3 inches). These fishes must be among the most 
abundant fishes of the region and the most valuable food for many of the other 
fishes, including squeteague, sea bass (locally called ‘‘rock bass’’), scup, mackerel, 
bonito, sea robin, blue-fish, cunner, gar, needle-fish, etc., besides terns and gulls. 
These fishes and the anchovies (Anchovia) undoubtedly contribute 
extensively to the food supply of the above-mentioned fishes besides 
many others southward, and it is not impossible that they furnish the 
chief subsistence for many of them. 
The extent to which the young blue-fish, squeteague, etc., feed upon 
the silversides suggests the question whether the extensive capture of 
silversides for commercial purposes be advisable. It might have an 
unforeseen injurious effect upon the abundance of more valuable fishes. 
The constantly increasing demand for fish-food has resulted in more 
extensive fisheries and new and improved appliances for fishing, as 
well as a market for fishes formerly valueless. All of these things 
have to some extent helped toward the decrease of the food-fishes, 
and in conjunction with impassable dams and other obstructions have 
caused the disappearance of anadromous fishes from some localities. 
It is impossible to tell the precise effect the disappearance of these 
fishes from a region may have had on the more permanent residents. 
Once it was thought that the cod fisheries of the coasts of Maine and 
Massachusetts were practically inexhaustible. It is noticeable, how- 
* Referring to W. menidia notata and M. beryllina cerea. 
