44 Fish Cultural Association. 
Ill. CRITICISM OF THE ARGUMENT BASED UPON THE PRESENCE OF 
MACKEREL IN NORTHERN WATERS LATE IN THE SEASON. 
A number of instances are. cited to prove that the mack- 
erel schools remain on the Dominion coast throughout the 
winter season. If this can be well established it is a very 
strong argument in favor of hybernation. Let us analyze 
this testimony. 
Dr. Gilpin is quoted to the etect that, during some sem, 
sons, they linger on the Nova Scotian coast until December, 
and allusion is made to a mackerel obtained by him at Hali- 
fax,- Oct. 27, 1875. Mr. John Rice. remembers that. his tathes 
used often to speak of mackerel “coming on shore like squid, 
with scales on their eyes, and blind, about Christmas,” about 
forty years ago.t Mr. Jabez Tilley states that they have been 
taken in November in Trinity Bay. Prof. Hind also states 
that they are to be found on the whole coast from Quirpon 
to Cape Spear during November and December. He gives 
no authority for this statement, and it is to be inferred that 
it is founded upon personal observation. Then there is the 
vague statement of Mr. Ambrose, already quoted, that mack- 
erel have been speared on muddy bottoms under the ice. 
Now this testimony does not, by any means, tend to 
prove that the mackerel remain near the coast in winter. In 
the first place, there is no satisfactory proof of their occur- 
rence later than Oct. 25, since that is the only evidence forti- 
fied by a memorandum of date, and the memories of fishermen 
are not more certain than those of other men. In the second 
place, it is not impossible that mackerel linger in these wa- 
ters: until’ November, /or..¢ven ~Becember, in the case ;onaam 
warm autumn, The temperature necessary for the menhaden 
SSP arG ds, ps 19s T Parte. ap: se 
