Coo 77/ A' FOOD FISHES. 



that were at one time a terror to sea-going vessels. The Blue-fish is recorded as weighing forty 

 pounds. Some schools average from sixteen to eighteen pounds for each fish. 



Under the fifth head of destructive agencies that have conspired to cause a decrease in the 

 numbers of food fishes of our coasts, we find those of human agencies. The pollution of water 

 by chemicals, which are thrown out in the shape of refuse from the various factories, is a 

 fruitful source of trouble— mechanical objects, as saw-dust from the numerous saw-mills on 

 the rivers. This substance is taken into the breathing organs of the fishes, and thereby 

 disables and eventually destroys the fishes. The young fry are especially affected by this 

 agency. The immense beds and accumulations, on the bottom of streams, of this saw-dust, ^ 

 and other like debris, so covers the natural spawning-beds of our food fishes, they are forced 

 to seek other and more propitious localities. 



As this matter of poisoning, or otherwise affecting the fishes by local obstructions, only 

 appertains to river fishes, ii is thought that this feature of the case is not of so much impor- 

 tance as was originally supposed. 



The question of improper or excessive fishing, is one of eminent importance. The use of 

 weirs and pounds has been a fruit fill cause of the disappearance of fishes from certain localities. 

 Offal thrown out in the vicinity of weirs in the shad fisheries of the Bay of Pundy, and Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, caused a marked decrease in the numbers of shad. There were so many young 

 fishes caught and thrown away as useless, that the fishes were driven away on account of the 

 stench resulting from decomposition. 



Prof. Baird says : '' T am myself cognizant of the capture of no less than twenty thousand 

 Blue-fish, weighing at least an hundred thousand pounds, in one weir in one night." This is 

 one instance of the wholesale capture of food fishes. With this example of the power of these 

 methods, the Professor proceeds to consider the relation such has upon the integrity of the 

 fisheries as in relation to the wants of man. The net pounds are expensive. They often cost 

 two or three thousand dollars, and require to be taken up before the heavy fall storms come 

 on to destroy them. Four men are required to take charge of one. The most common form 

 on the south side of New England consists of a fence, or netting, extending to the shore, and 

 nearly parallel to it, for a distance of fifty or a hundred fathoms, or more, as is required.; 

 The outer end of this straight fence, or wall, is carried into a heart-shaped fence, or netting, 

 the apex of which is connected with a circular bowl of network, the bottom of which lies upon 

 the ground at a depth of about twenty or thirty feet. The fish, in their movement along the 

 coast, first strike against the fence of netting, and are directed outward, following the fence 

 or leader along until they reach the -nil. which, of course, brings them within the "heart." 

 Here they wander around for a time, their only easy avenue of escape being through the apex 

 into the bowl, and in which, when entered, they continually circle about, without ever finding 

 the outlet. It is a peculiarity of lishes in their movements, especially when in schools, that 

 they do not turn a sharp corner, hut move in curves : ami the nets in question are so arranged 

 that the curves they are likely to take never briny- them toward an avenue of escape, but 

 rather tend to conduct them farther in. 



The propriety of authorizing the construction of these means of wholesale fishing occupied 

 the attention of the Canadian authorities, and the testimony of many was brought to their 

 notice, which resulted in .the use of weirs and traps being forbidden in some districts, and 

 others being placed under supervision, or restriction. 



It is an extremely interesting circumstance. w T ell authenticated by the experience of persons 

 engaged in the fishing investigations, as well as by intelligent fishermen, that fishes that spawn on 

 or near the shores have definite relationship to those places. Fishes have been marked many 

 times, and found to return to the same locality to spawn, and they do this many times, probably 

 indefinitely. Marks have been made on halibut, and the fish was found to return and becom ; 

 captured near the spot where he first underwent a marking, litis is a common occurrence. 



Turtles, the large sea-going ones, are often marked at their breeding-places, and found to 

 return to the same localities to breed. 



Tt has been an universal understanding that Shad. Alewives, Salmon, made an extensive 

 migration covering thousands of miles of coast. The Shad was thought to begin its migration 



