128 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [12] 



pared and numbered, the number and answer only being written by 

 the boarding officer ; this rule was followed on board of fishing vessels, 

 but at the factories he has adopted the narrative form, which I have re- 

 tained. 



It will be observed, by reference to the reports, that menhaden are 

 unsually plentiful this season from the Chesapeake to Montauk, the 

 ground covered by our investigation. It will be seen, also, that the fish 

 are generally below the average in size and condition, the product vary- 

 ing from one to two gallons of oil to a thousand fish. 



The fishermen of the Chesapeake whom we interviewed were unani- 

 mous in their belief that the menhaden taken there were a local fish, 

 that they spawned in the bay, and remained there through the winter. 

 Some of them report having seen full-grown menhaden in winter, and 

 large masses of young fish. The Fish Hawk took menhaden from 3 

 to 6 inches in length early in March, 1882, in the Chesaijeake, which 

 would seem to favor the theory that they wintered there. 



We saw no fishing outside of the capes of the Chesapeake and none 

 inside the Delaware capes. In the latter case their fishing grounds 

 extend from Fenwick's Island to Hereford light. The tides are too 

 strong inside the capes to use the purse-seine with success. 



The l^ew York grounds may be said to extend from Barnegat to Fire 

 Island, large numbers being taken in the Lower Bay. Vessels to the 

 eastward of Fire Island usually deliver their catch to factories in Long 

 Island Sound, and fish taken in the Sound are delivered to factories in 

 the vicinity. It would seem by the report that very few edible fish are 

 taken with the menhaden. The quantity varies, however, in different 

 localities. 



The first catch of the season is from the pounds before they begin 

 schooling at the surface. There were no mackerel reported between 

 the Chesapeake and Montauk, the invariable reply to the question be- 

 ing that they had gone to the eastward. 



It is well understood among fishermen that the temperature of the 

 water has a marked effect upon the movements of menhaden, but there 

 seemed to be very little knowledge as to the actual temperatures re- 

 quired to produce certain results. Some observers, however, stated 

 that they did not school at the surface until the water was about 54°. 

 Clear weather with south and west winds was considered the best for 

 fishing. 



Opinions differ somewhat, it will be observed, as to increase or decrease 

 of fish on the Atlantic coast. 



On July 7, off the mouth of the Great Wicomico Eiver, in a fleet of 

 about sixty sail, the following questions were asked by Captain Almy, 

 viz : 



1. What vessel is this"? 



2. Whence does she hail? 



3. What is the captain's name? 



