36 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



1 suppose we catch more fish in our two pounds than are caught in all 

 the other pounds in the Sound put together. We think this is because 

 we are so near the ocean. When both pounds are in operation, we catch 

 more fish in the eastern one. Later in the season we see schools of fish 

 coming from the west. 



We can judge something of the way fish are going by those that are 

 gilled in the leaders. We have caught the conger-eel in the spring. 

 They are a spotted fish, and have considerably large holes in the side of 

 the mouth. We catch many of them every year. We catch the true 

 cat-fish also every year. 



Question. What w^ould you rent your pound for by the month and 

 man it — five hundred dollars ? 



Answer. If you would say five thousand dollars a month, we might 

 talk about it. 



Before we came here with our traps, the herring had begun to diminish 

 up in Squib-Xocket Pond. But last year they could catch as many as 

 they wanted — from five to ten thousand at a time. 



Last year and the year before they caught more than they had in any 

 year for thirty years. Scup began to diminish long before we put down 

 pounds here. Summer trapping would not pay without the spring 

 trapping. I have dressed tautog in the month of August chock-full of 

 spawn. 



Question. Would it suit you to propose to close the pounds for a cer- 

 tain time in each week ; say from Saturday noon until Monday noon ; 

 and make the law imperative on all the pounds, so that no fish should 

 be takeii during that time by anybody 5 and with such penalties that it 

 will be absolutely certain that the law will be enforced '? 



Answer. That would suit us better than to be stopped entirely. We 

 would like that, of course, if we could not do any better. 



Question. What would be the best way to prevent fish from going in 

 the pounds ? 



Answer. Close the door; and if they went into the heart, they would 

 pass right under. 



We make a good -deal of money on mackerel; and it is no worse for 

 us to catch mackerel than for the mackerel-catchers. The monej^ that 

 w^e make on tautog and scup is a mere trifle. AYe make money on the 

 fish that nobody pretends to catch with the hook. We have been in 

 the pound business about ten years, and I do not see any diminution of 

 fish of any kind. Mackerel last year were plenty with us. 



There should be a pretty heavy penalty, in order to carry the thing 

 through ; and it ought to be so. 



Question. What should be the nature of the penalty ? 



Answer. I should say put it pretty heavy, for we should obey the law. 



Question. How much ? 



Answer. [All present agreed that $1,000 was not too much.] 



Question. Would you advise a fine and confiscation of the equip- 

 ment"? 



Answer. Yes, sir ; that is a good idea. 



Question. What would you think of requiring a license, in order to 

 put down a pouml I 



Answer. 1 should like that very well. 



Question, llow far apart should the pounds be of two different par- 

 ties ? 



Answer. About a mile. 



Question. Would you say that, when a license to place a pound in 



