THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 65 
of great abundance, and seasons of scarcity, and that up to the 
present time, these seasons have not been affected, either one way 
or the other, by human agency. 
Another significant fact is, that during the early part of the 
menhaden season of 1883, and up to nearly its close, the fishing 
was so poor and unprofitable, that the fishermen themselves be- 
gan to think they had “killed the goose that laid the golden 
egg,” when all at once the fish appeared in countless numbers; 
and in a few days they had taken enough to turn what had pro- 
mised to be a most disastrous season into one of large profit to 
all concerned. 
Now, having presented these facts to you in a crude and dis- 
jointed form, permit me to say in closing, that although what are 
known as the hook and line fishermen, almost without excep- 
tion, testify (and I believe truly) that they find their occupation 
and means of living seriously impaired, yet, from my experience 
and observation in the markets, I believe the facts to be that, 
with the exception of striped bass and lobsters, all kinds of sea 
food fishes are as abundant now as they were fifteen years ago, 
and, believing this, I am forced to the conviction that any legis- 
lation looking to the restriction of the fishing by the menhaden 
fishermen is unnecessary, and that any laws prohibiting pound 
and trap net fishing would cut off a large proportion of abundant 
and cheap food for the people, and nothing would be gained. 
But I do hope that Congress will take some action that will 
provide for the collection of statistics as to the quantities of fish 
taken, so that in future, when questions affecting these vast 
industries come before them, they will then be able to frame 
legislation that will protect the fisheries, and not oppress the 
fishermen. 
Mr. Enpicorr: I would like to ask Mr. Blackford to state 
whether in his opinion the pollution of the waters by gases and 
oils has a detrimental effect upon the fisheries, 
Mr. Biackrorp: That is a question which, I believe, received 
some attention at the last meeting of the Association in the 
Cooper Institute, New York. On that occasion some action 
was taken, which looked towards a petition for legislation to 
