REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LXIl 



sought after by fishermen. The cause of the decrease is probabij 

 partly overfishing in parcicular localities, and partly the numerous 

 pestilences and mortalities by which so many are exterminated. No 

 satisfactory theory has been presented for this mortality, although an 

 intelligent writer suggests that ik is due to the influx of the cold water 

 found near the sea bottom at great depth even in the Gulf Stream, which 

 has the same effect as the northers on the coast of Texas during the 

 winter-time. 



20. — TREATY OF WASHINGTON. 



The termination of that part of the treaty of Washington relating to 

 the fisheries is attracting much attention on the part of fishermen; and 

 the question is being mooted as to how this is likely to affect American 

 interests, and what should be done by the United States in the way of 

 renewal. A proper investigation of the subject can be had only after 

 a careful study of the influence the twelve-year period has had upon 

 the welfare of the American fishermen and the amount of the catch. 

 The TJ. S. Fish Commission has for some time been engaged in securing 

 the data necessary to consider the subject fairly and thoroughly, should 

 it be brought before a commission such as sat at Halifax in 1877. 



21. — COD aiLL-NETS. • 



The importance of the introduction, by the U. S. Fish Commission, 

 of the method of catching codfish by the use of gill-nets, has never been 

 so apparent as during the winter of 1882-'83. Owing to the almost 

 total failure of the bait supply it was impracticable to carry on the 

 shore cod-fishery by the old method of hook-and-line fishing. Such a 

 scarcity of bait was never known before, and if the fishermen had not 

 been instructed in the use of gill-nets for the capture of cod a valuable 

 and important industry must have been almost abandoned for the season, 

 at least while the scarcity of fresh cod in our markets would have in- 

 creased the price to such an extent as practically to place this important 

 article of food beyond the reach of the masses. 



But during the previous two years the New England fishermen learned 

 a great deal about catching codfish in nets from an illustrated pamphlet 

 containing descriptions of all the methods, which was freely circulated 

 by the Commission, and to this was also added the knowledge gained 

 in a practical way. They were therefore prepared to meet the emer- 

 gency, as, instead of being compelled to give up the shore cod-fishery, they 

 met with a success which has rarely or never been equaled. Such ex- 

 cellent results obtained by the use of gill-nets in the cod fisheries that 

 thf local papers in the principal fishing ports contained frequent notices 

 of successful catches. The Cape Ann Advertiser of December 8, 1882, 

 gives the following account of the " Good results of net cod-fishing." 



"■ On Tuesday, December 4, boat Equal, with two men, took 5,000 

 pounds of large codfish in seven nets off shore, sharing $40 each. The 



