REGULATION OF THE SEA-FISHERIES BY LA^Y. 119 



tioii of tsvo years, upward of 200,090 barrels annually. Last season it 

 was 234,000 barrels. It will be seen that tlie catch of fisli from year to 

 year dift'ers as widely as the product of our laud. 



About ISJrO tliere appeared on our coast, south of Cape Cod, large 

 quantities of shad, whicli appeared to be the same species with those 

 that visit tlie Connecticut and Merrimack Elvers annually, [Alosaj^resta- 

 hilis.) Fishermen from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Ehode Island 

 engaged in this fishery, and found it profitable. In 1812 an act was 

 .passed by the legislature to prohibit fishermen from other States from 

 fishing for shad within aline drawn from Monomoy Point to Point G-am- 

 inon. I myself engaged in this fishery, but we found there was no 

 need of the passage of such an act. The shad appeared in small numbers, 

 so that not enough were caught to pay expenses. They were also caught 

 in large quantities in the waters north of Cape Cod. They then disap- 

 lieared, so that only a few straggling specimens have vsince been caught 

 in these localities. Where were they before they appeared in our waters ? 

 What was the cause of their coming ? Where are they now '? All that 

 can be said in answer, I can say in three words — they are gone. 



Sir, I ask to be allowed to allude briefly to two species of fishes that 

 are not caught by any mode of fishing that we are asked to prohibit. I 

 do so for the reason that no less than four times petitions have been sent 

 to the legislature asking for an act to prohibit iishing with trawl-lines 

 (so called) in Massachusetts Bay. The report from the committee has 

 always been "leave to withdraw." In 1858, when the report came up 

 in the house of representatives, it was discussed at length, and it was 

 there stated that if this mode of fishing was not prevented by legislative 

 enactment, soon haddock would be as scarce as salmon. The report of 

 the committee was accepted, and this mode of fishing has been in use 

 since that time, and this species has been increasing from year to year, 

 until they have increased in vast numbers, so much so that they are too 

 plent}' for the fisherman or dealer, and during the spawning season, 

 which is the spring, they are sold at a low price — from two dollars down 

 to fifty cents per 100 pounds. But it may be said the consumer pays a 

 high price. 1 cannot help that ; it is not that that I am discussing. I am 

 trying to show the danger of exterminating the race of fish, if there is 

 any, and do not intend to leave my subject, lest I may be called to order. 

 AVhen I first engaged in the fisheries, haddock was scarce on our coast, 

 and in winter sold much higher than cod. They did not increase for 

 many years after. They, however, became plentiful when the trawl-line 

 was first used — about 1850 — and every year they seem to be increasing. 

 On the 4th of last March, when a large number of fishing boats were 

 out, the catch was larger than I ever knew before. The next day, 5th, 

 there was brought to this city and sold at Commercial wharf, of cod and 

 haddock, 021,953 pouiuls, as taken from the books of dealers that bought 

 that daj' — a larger quantity than ever was sold of all kinds of fresh fish 

 in a single day since Boston has been a city. What has been the cause 

 of so great an increase ? If I was asked how their numbers could be 

 diminished, I have two ways now suggested to my mind : one is to iutro- 

 ■duce the beam-trawl, which has not i3een used in our waters, which is a 

 large net-bag with a long beam across its open mouth, which is kept up 

 some two feet from the bottom by au iron frame-work at each end of the 

 beam, and as it is dragged along by the fishing-boat the fish pass into 

 the net and are caught in the pockets at the sides as they attempt to 

 pass out. This net being dragged over the bottom, would destroy the 

 joung fish as it passed over them, and might tend to diminish their 

 numbers. 



