NATURAL HISTORY OF IMPORTANT FOOD-FISHES. 239 



accounts agree in reference to the very large size (even to 40 or 50 pounds) 

 of those taken in the last century. 



Farther research into ancient records may tend to throw more light 

 on the early history of the blue-lish, and even materially to change the 

 conclusions alread}^ reached. It will be observed that the references to 

 its occurrence, from 17S0 to ISOO, are on the testimony of aged persons 

 who have heard their fathers speak of it, although I find no printed 

 records anywhere in reference to it between 1704 and 1810. The rate of 

 l^rogressio'n to the north of Cape Cod I have at present no means of in- 

 dicating, although they probably gradually extended farther and farther 

 north, and may jiossibly occur much farther east than we have any men- 

 tion of at present. 



During the present century the maximum of abundance of these fish 

 off the middle coast of the IJnited States appears to have been reached 

 from 1850 to 18G0. The testimonj- elicited from various parties, as well 

 as from printed records, indicates a decrease since that jieriod much 

 greater in some localities than others. About New York they are said 

 to have been unusually plenty in the summer of 1871, but farther east 

 the diminution which had been observed in previous years appeared to 

 continue. The testimony taken at ISTewport varied somewhat, some per- 

 sons thinking the fish were decidedl}^ scarcer than in previous years, 

 others finding no appreciable difierence. (See pp. 8, 11, 18.) JMr. Har- 

 mon, of Pasque Island, Vineyard Sound, stated that the blue-fish, within 

 a very few years, had diminished to such an extent tliat, when fishing 

 from the stands, not more than two or three could be taken in a day. 



At oSfantucket, those fishing with gill-nets considered the blue-fish as 

 plenty as before, and even more abundant ; but the unanimous testimony 

 of a large number of line-fishermen was to the effect that there had been 

 a very decided reduction. This expression of opinion was also shared 

 by the line-fishermen at Edgartown as well as at Hyannis. Indeed it 

 was asserted that while the reduction, up to 1870, had been gradual, it 

 became abruptly mu^h greater in 1871. If this be true, it may have 

 been caused by a more limited range of the fish ; perhaps in consequence 

 of remaining off' the coast of New York and New Jersey, where the 

 number is believed to have been greater than in previous years. 



All parties, however, agreed that there were fewer fish on the north 

 side of Nantucket than usual. 



The testimony at Hyannis was very emphatic in reference to a posi- 

 tive and abrupt decrease, although this was less in the case of the blue- 

 fish than had been observed in regard to the scup, sea-bass, and tautog. 



According to some persons, the number taken in 1871 was not half 

 that of 1870 ; thus, while a year or two before 1870 five hundred pounds 

 a day was a fair average for a single fisherman, one hundred pounds was 

 a liberal allowance for 1871. (Page 50.) Ten or fifteen years ago, 

 eighteen men at Hyannis could load a vessel with blue-fish in a day, to 

 do this requiring fifteen hundred fish weighing five or six pounds each. 

 This is now said to be entirely impossible, even with twice the number of 

 men. 



According to Captain Edwards, the blue-fish in 1871 were not more 

 than half or one-fourth as plenty as they were a few years ago ; this 

 either in consequence of their extending their cruising-grounds farther 

 to the east, or the diminution of their food. 



Captain Thomas Hinckley, also of Wood's Hole, believes the decrease 

 to be very decided, and states that it commenced four or five years ago. 



On the other hand, Dr. Yarrow learns that blue-fish have increased on 

 the Carolina coast, as compared with their abundance before the war. 



