58 EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



23. No. 



30. On the sand and about rocks, both ; generally where there is some 

 current, and where the small fish gather. 



31. From one fathom to six. Often found in the grass where the 

 water is low. 



34. None that I know of. 



36. None. 



37. Small squid and all kinds of small fish. 



71. With hooks, drag-nets, and pounds. For bait white shiners are 

 used ', sometimes a piece of menhaden. 

 76. Taken in nets first. 

 79. Moderately good. 

 81. Quite extensively. 



83. No. 



84. Average price is low ; one and one-half cents a pound here a week 

 ago. 



86. New York. 



MENHADEN. 



Come in May, and remain till the middle of October; generally most 

 early in the season. 



5. Decreased very much ; very few now, comparatively. 



6. They are caught in nets. 



7. Scarcely one now to ten thousand formerly. 



8. Less than a pound. 



11. Come from the west ; pass by now. They formerly remained in 

 the harbor all summer. 



12. They go off to sea by way of the mouth of the sound and bay. 



15. They leave in small bodies ; they run together all the time. 



16. Regular decrease for ten years ; no increase at any portion of that 

 time. 



17. No difference. 



18. Not one in twenty has any spawn. I do not think they spawn at 

 any particular season ; the first caught is as likely to have spawn as 

 any. Those that stay in the summer run up where the water is brack- 

 ish and remain; and in New Bedford Eiver there are thousands of 

 young ones in the fall; the same is true at Mattapoisett, Wareham, and 

 Monument Eiver. 



21. Generally swim high; make a ripple, but do not attract birds. 

 29. Half-grown ones are found with the old ones. I do not think 

 they come here when only one year old. 

 31. Four fathoms. 



33. They keep together in schools. 



34. Almost all fish prey upon them. 



35. None ; they eat bait or any small substance floating in the water. 

 They get very fat ; but I never found any small fish in their stomachs. 



36. Very greatly. 



37. Cannot give it a name. 

 39. I think not much. 



42. The breeding-fish are caught in nets. 



46. Nobody has found out ; it is suppt)sed they spawn at all seasons. 



63. All kinds of fish eat the young; have even more enemies than 

 when full-grown. 



64. No, not now. 



67. No. 



68. No. 



