THE MENHADEN FISHERY. 347 
THE USE OF MENHADEN BAIT IN THE COAST FISHERIES.—Menhaden bait is also used in 
the coast fisheries for sea bass, on the “ bull-tows” or “trot-lines,” and in the eel and lobster 
pots. They are not much in favor for the latter use, however, for the oil of the fish is thought to 
permeate the flesh of the lobster, imparting to if an unpleasant flavor. 
Menhaden have also been used as bait for bluefish in the same manner as in the mackerel 
hook-fishery, the menhaden being chopped up fine and thrown in the water to attract the schools 
of bluefish. This method of catching bluefish is called “ chumming.” * 
EXTENT OF BAIT-FISHERY IN NEw ENGLAND.—Captain Babson, of Gloucester, whose account 
of the bait-fishery of Cape Ann is quoted elsewhere, and who has given much other valuable 
information, states that there were over 60,000 barrels of “round-fish” taken in his district in 
1873. Vessels belonging to the companies of the Maine Oil and Guano Association sold in 1873 
for bait 2,977 barrels; in 1874, 10,400; in 1877, 10,795. From the bait fisheries about Marblehead, 
in the vicinity of Provincetown, 1,000 to 2,000 barrels were taken for bait in 1873, according to Mr. 
Loring. At Chatham, for the past five years, the average catch has been about 5,000 barrels, a 
large portion of which are sold to the George’s Bank codfish vessels. There are some bait-fisheries 
about Nantucket, which are, however, quite unimportant. 
Most of the fish taken at Martha’s Vineward are used for bait; in 1873, according to Jason 
Luce & Co., there were 5,000 barrels. 
At Gloucester, according to Capt. F. J. Babson, the 60,000 barrels of round fish make 20,000 
barrels of “slivers,” worth $4 per barrel to the producer. . At Marblehead it averages $1 per barrel 
for fresh and $6 for salt; at Chatham, $1.50 fresh; at Nantucket, 50 cents to 75 cents, and at 
Martha’s Vineyard 50 cents, as 1am told. In Narragansett Bay, according to Mr. J. M. K. South- 
wick, bait sold in 1871 for $1 and $1.50. 
BAIT-FISHERY IN MERRIMAC RIVER AND SALEM HARBOR.—Fisheries of some importance 
were formerly carried on at the mouth of the Merrimac River. The menhaden thus obtained were 
used chiefly to supply the Cape Ann fishing fleet with bait, although they were salted for food to 
a considerable extent. Ten seines and about seventy men were engaged in this fishery during its 
continuance, which usually lasted about one month—from the middle of June to the middle of 
July. The seines were 100 to 200 yards long and 5 to 8 fathoms deep, requiring six to eight men 
to manage them. The boats from which they were worked were light scows, about 25 feet in 
length and 8 feet in breadth of beam. The seine was set from the stern of the scow, and was 
worked from the shore by means of long warps. 
Capt. Moses Pettingell, of Newburyport, to whom we are indebted for the above facts, states 
that the seine-gangs have occasionally taken 2,000 barrels of fish in a single day. 
Boston and Gloucester vessels were accustomed to anchor at the mouth of the river and wait 
for their supplies of bait. At one time in 1877 there were 25 fishing schooners waiting. Captain 
Pettingell estimates that 500 supplies of bait from 10 to 60 barrels were sold annually by the Mer- 
rimac seine-gangs. 
The regular price of fresh bait for ten years prior to 1878 was $1 per barrel. Probably 1,000 
barrels of slivered fish were prepared in 1876; these sold for $5 per barrel. Captain Pettingell 
estimates the catch for 1876 at 2,000 barrels to a boat, making an aggregate catch of 20,000 barrels, 
or perhaps 6,600,000 fish. The returns were probably not far from $20,000 in a good season. 
The following table is from the Report of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries for 1877 
(p. 65). It is possibly not complete. 
