REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXI 



ing, uo matter liow extensively prosecuted, will never materially affect 

 the supply of the fish in the sea. As a general rule, fish, when engaged 

 in the function of reproduction, will not take the hook, whatever be 

 their abundance; but, as soon as the critical season has passed, they 

 feed very voraciously, and then can be readily caught by skilled fisher- 

 men. It therefore would be no evil should every fully grown fish of three 

 to five years old and upward be lifted from the sea after the close of the 

 spawning season, in the course of a season, since the following year we 

 may look for a new generation coming into exercise the function of re- 

 l)roduction ; and ample provision will thus exist for a renewed sux^ply 

 from year to year. As already explained, the case is entirely different 

 when these fish are caught before they spawn, all the evils that we have 

 depicted following in the train of such thoughtless destruction, precisely 

 equivalent to killing of all the mature hens in a [farm-yard before they 

 have laid their eggs, and then expecting to have the stock continued in- 

 definitely. As well might the farmer expect to keep uj) his supply of 

 wheat, year by year, while he consumed all his grain, reserving none for 

 seed, and without the possibility of obtaining it from any other source. 



Objections have been made to the use of what is called the trawl- 

 line, trot-line, bultow, &c., in capturing fish of the cod family. This 

 consists of a strong cord of 18 or 24 thread, sometimes of several 

 hundred fathoms in length, [o which are attached at intervals of 

 about six feet short lines of nearly three feet in length, having hooks at 

 the end. These, to the number of four or five hundred or more upon a 

 single line, are baited and sunk to the bottom by anchors, and at regu- 

 lar distance, the ends of the main line being buoyed SQas to show their 

 locality. At intervals throughout the day these lines are examined, 

 being taken up and carried across a boat, the fish captured re- 

 moved and the empty hooks rebaited, and the whole again replaced. 

 Immense numbers of fish are taken by this method, especially on the 

 coast of England and on the banks of iTewfouudland, as likewise along 

 various parts of the New England coast. 



Although this practice has excited the animadversions of sojne on 

 account of its supposed destructive nature, it seems hardlj' i^ossible 

 that it can be really iujurious, since it does not take the spawning fish, 

 and merely represents the result of an increased number of hand- 

 lines. 



Our remarks have been hitherto directed toward the practice of the 

 destruction of the parent fish before the function of spawning has been 

 properly accomplished. It is equally reprehensible to interfere in any 

 way with or destroy the spawn after they have been laid, or the young 

 fry after they are hatched. This result is said to follow the use of the 

 trawl-net, which, dragged carefully and sedulously, day by day, over 

 that portion of the sea-bottom which constitutes the great nursery of 

 fish, bruises the eggs and harrows up the sea- weed or grass to which 

 the eggs have been attached, or among which the young fish are play> 



