64 FISH-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The first load of mackerel was followed by several loads with 
fish a very little larger in size, but about the 2oth of April a new 
school made its appearance, the average weight of the fish being 
about one pound each, and at least 1,500,o00 of this size have, 
up to the present time, been marketed, and a large portion of 
them have been sold as low as two cents each. 
The porgy, or, as it is sometimes called, the scup, is another 
important fish that furnishes abundant and cheap food, and about 
which considerable controversy has been had during the past 
few years, between the net men on one side and the hook and 
line men on the other, the latter claiming that the pounds and 
traps of the former were exterminating these fish, and efforts 
were put forth to have laws enacted that should restrict or abol- 
ish pound and trap fishing. But nothing came of such endeav- 
ors. This was in 1871, and fishing has been carried on in the 
same manner ever since, and in the New York market last week 
porgies sold as low as 75 cents per barrel, or about one-half a 
cent per pound. 
I might continue on through the list of food fishes, and occupy 
your time, and possibly your attention, but I think I have said 
enough on this branch of the question. 
Now, let us consider the menhaden fisheries, against which is 
brought the charge that they are prosecuted to such an extent, 
by both sail and steam vessels, that thev have materially decreas- 
ed the numbers of menhaden, and seriously impaired the catch 
of food fishes. You will find, by referring to the reports of the 
United States Menhaden Oil & Guano Association, that in 1875, 
with 283 sailing vessels, and 25 steamers, 492,878,000 fish were 
taken, that in 1881, with 286 sailing vessels, and 73 steamers, 
454,192,000 fish were caught, and in 1882, with 83 steamers, and 
212 sailing vessels, only 346,638,000 were caught, and last year, 
1883, with 136 sail and 69 steamers, there was the enormous catch 
of 613,461,000 fish. These figures, taken in connection with the 
statements that have been made to me by captains of merchant 
vessels and fishing smacks, that during the fall of 1883, they sail- 
ed through miles of menhaden, would warrant the belief that 
this fish is very far from being exterminated, and that, with them 
as with the food fishes that are taken for market, there are seasons 
