328 Fisurmye in AMERICAN WATERS. 
duced to forage in the waters of the United States, instead 
of settling beyond their limits. 
MENHADEN FOR BAIT. 
The largest fleet engaged at catching menhaden bait along 
the coast is at Gloucester, Mass., where twenty fast-sailing 
fishing-smacks are engaged six months of the year at netting 
menhaden, and their annual sales of bait average in amount 
$75,000. Ofthe pilchard, No. 2, and anchovy, No. 3, they are 
European fishes; but the herring, No. 5, swarms along all the 
shores and inlets of the Atlantic during the spring and sum- 
mer months; and whether it is the want of duly appreciating 
the fish, or because American fishermen have better employ- 
ment during the season which the herring visits our shores, 
I know not, but it does not claim its proportionate share of 
interest and attention among the numerous families of Ameri- 
can food-fishes. 
FROZEN HERRINGS. 
Late in autumn about fifty vessels sail annually from Mas- 
sachusetts to Newfoundland for frozen herrings. Their aver- 
age catch is one hundred tons each, and their wholesale price 
in the New York markets is three cents a pound, or $300,000. 
SECTION FOURTH. 
THE CODFISH—CATCHING AND CURING IT. 
Far off by stormy Labrador— 
Far off the Banks of Newfoundland, 
Where angry seas incessant roar, 
And foggy mists their wings expand, 
The fishing-schooners, black and low, 
For weary months sail to and fro ; 
Seeking no home, no rest the while, 
Till each is freighted full with spoil. 
While visiting the mouth of the St. John River, on the 
north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, I spent some time in 
examining the modus operandi of taking and dry-curing cod. 
