THE FOOD FISHES. 601 



in the waters of the West Indies, and in an immense body proceed northward, sending a detach- 

 ment to occupy each river or fresh-water stream, as it was reached, until the last came to the 

 St. Lawrence River, where they closed the course. It is one of the great results of the fishery 

 examinations that there are certain facts, discovered lately, tending to prove that the journey 

 of these fishes commences at the mouths of rivers, and continues alon.n' the coasl by the nearest 

 deep gullies, or troughs, to the deep outer sea, and that the appearance of the fishes in the 

 mouths of rivers along the coast, at successive intervals, from early spring in the South to near 

 mid-summer in the North, is simply due to their taking up their line of march at successive 

 epochs, from the open sea to the river they had left during the previous season, induced by t 

 the stimulus of a definite temperature, which, of course, would be successively attained at 

 later and later dates, as the distance northward increased. 



"The principle," says Prof. Baird. " will be safely considered established that line-fishing, 

 no matter how extensively prosecuted, will never materially affect the supply of fish in the sea."' 



As a rule, fish, when engaged in the function of reproduction, will not take hook, what- 

 ever may be their abundance. But as soon as that period has passed, they feed voraciously, 

 and then can be caught readily by skilled fishermen. 



There was an earnest outcry some years since, by the fishermen of New England, against 

 a custom of a few fishermen from Boston, who laid what they called trawls, whereby they 

 caught readily and easily large "fares" of fishes, mostly Cod and Haddock. This custom 

 interfered with the more quiet hand-fishing that had for many years been carried on by the 

 fishermen around the coast of Massachusetts Bay. The greater numbers of the trawl-fishers 

 interfered seriously with the smaller and slower business of the line-fishers. This is seen to 

 be a purely personal and selfish matter. The spawn fishes, having no appetite, did not take 

 hook until after they had deposited their loads; consequently, there was no loss, as it is 

 thought that if the spawn fishes should be unmolested, the entire number of the others might 

 be annihilated without detriment to the supply. 



Of course, it is not advisable to interfere with or destroy the yonnu' fishes or the spawn. 

 It is said that the use of the trawl-net does seriously interfere with a proper development of 

 the spawn. They are dragged over the bottom, where either the spawn is yet unhatched, or 

 where the young fry are secreted among the alga? or sea-grasses for protection. In America, very 

 little of this kind of fishing is as yet in practice, but in Europe it is said to be more destruc- 

 tive than any other methods of fishing, or all put together. 



In a sixth division, the question is discussed of the results of the combined action of 

 Blue-fish and human agencies in producing a diminution of numbers of food fishes. As a 

 result of the fishery commission explorations, it is found that certain small fishes, as the 

 Friar, or Atherina, the various species of Cypronodonts, etc., occurring in great numbers, 

 feed almost exclusively on the spawn of other fishes. These are not affected by any modes of 

 fishing, but, if anything, are more abundant than ever, from the fact that the larger fishes that 

 prey upon them are less in number. Being always upon the grounds, they tend, other things 

 being equal, to keep a balance of numbers; but, if other causes co-operate in the wholesale 

 destruction, as star-fishes and crustaceans, which also feed on the spawn, there is danger of a 

 decided decrease in the numbers of the food fishes, and even a serious reduction follows. 



In view of all the circumstances, the conclusion was reached that, if* measures can be taken 

 to prevent the present great destruction of spawning fish, the supply will again be increased 

 before long, and with the increasing abundance of the shore fishes, the Blue-fishes will also 

 increase in numbers. 



In treating this subject with reference to devising means of relief, the commissioner said 



that he could not advise the suppression of traps and pounds, as it is probable, without them. 



it would be impossible, or extremely difficult, to furnish lishes in quantities sufficient to meet 



the present and increasing demands of the country. He says : " After consulting with parties 



interested, I have come to the conclusion that if the capture of fish in traps and pounds be 



absolutely prohibited, under suitable penalties, from six o'clock on Friday night until six 



o'clock on Monday morning, even during a season of six weeks only (thus requiring a close 



time of three nights and two flays, to enable the lishes to pass and perform their natural 

 Voi. in.— 76. 



