190 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The aggregate yield of Spanish mackerel on this shore was 151,934 
pounds in 1889 and 124,640 pounds in 1890, valued at $10,783 ae 
$6,799, respectively. The fish are sold by the piece, at the uniform price 
of 8$ cents each. The fishermen explain that the somewhat smaller 
yield in 1890 was not due to a scarcity of fish, but to conditions of 
weather and temperature which kept the fish offshore or beyond the 
reach of the nets. 
Pomatomus saltatrix. ‘‘ Bluefish.” 
’ Next to the Spanish mackerel the bluefish is the most valuable spe- 
cies taken in the pound nets. July and August are the months during 
which the largest runs oceur; the catch then is always greater than in 
May, June, September, and October. The fish was as abundant at Cape 
Charles in 1890 as it was ever known to be, but as the schools kept 
well offshore for the most part, the catch was not commensurate with 
the abundance. The following statement, based on the catch in nets 
for which detailed figures are available, ae: s the monthly yaa 
in the abundance of the fish in the inshore waters: 
Monthly pound-net catch of bluefish in the vicinity of Cape Charles, Virginia. 
1889 1890 
Month. (6 nets). | (5 nets). 
Pounds. Pounds. 
1 A CACO EIOHC GLE IAIDOOROLIO TAR reOUDDENO HHOBROOUCCESE Pirie Sa. 35 2,214 
WINN Bes. oo see eee ters See. cee eas cee Sees ae Soe ee 6, 680 Gwe 
FILL by gino eS eee ne es, Ae a fh AE ee eS yank 19, 073 13. 567 
AWUDUINU = 22s ee lotions SUS shee: seen SSR US eo A eee 13, 436 14, 420 
peptemper so" 2-2. 22 eo coal el tet. eee eee e at a 1, 773 8, 190 
OotORSr: 2255 Bec Satew som cietieeucee ree cme eae ose e nie ae 490 
Mobal 22th oS esos nt Set Ses ee wee pe Bee ot ES _ 40,997 | 45, 653 
The total catch of bluefish in pound nets was 71,420 pounds, valued at 
$2,193, in 1889, and 112,703 pounds, worth $3,161, in 1890. The yield of 
most of the nets is sold on the grounds at the uniform rate of $2 a bushel. 
Cynoscion nebulosum. Spotted squeteague; ‘ Trout”; ‘*Salmon.trout”; “White 
trout.” 
The spotted squeteague ranks next to the preceding species in com- 
mercial value. It occurs from April to October, inclusive, although it 
is taken in small quantities early and late in the season, as only a few 
and often no pound nets are then in operation. The fish is most com- 
mon in July and August, during which months more than half of the 
catch is made. The fish was four times more abundant in 1890 than in 
the previous year, although it is usually not subject to variations so 
marked as this. The aggregate catch in the pound nets of this section 
was 62,610 pounds in 1889 and 262,110 pounds in 1890, for which the 
fishermen received $672 and $2,251, respectively. N eats all the fish 
are sold locally by the bushel, at prices ranging from 50 cents to $1, 
according to the demand, The average weight of the fish is one-half 
