THE SARDINE INDUSTRY. ; 507 
one-third of their working time in the spring and early summer and an occasional day in the fall, 
and they are often obliged to ran day and night when the fish can be obtained, in order to supply 
the trade. 
The men fishing for the canntries must be able to make enough when “ the tides are on” to pay 
them for waiting when “the tides are off ”; and for this reason the canneries are often obliged 
to buy a larger quantity than can be put into cans, the surplus being cut into Russian sardines. 
The weir, as has already been mentioned, is not fished with any regularity, as there are weeks 
and even months together when there are not fish enough to pay for hauling the seine. The 
herring seemingly avoid therfi in the day-time, and even on light nights, fishing being best when it 
is darkest. Again, they enter the weir in considerable numbers only at or near high-water. We 
have, therefore, two varying conditions that greatly affect the catch; it being largest when high- 
water occurs at a particular time and the night is peculiarly dark. The record furnished by Mr. 
Green shows that during the season of 1879, which lasted one hundred and seventy-three days, 
herring were taken forty-five times, or an average of one day in four, the total catch being 303 
hogsheads. In 1878 the same weir was fished about one day in three. 
Formerly the daily irregularity of the supply was no serious drawback, and if the total catch 
of a season was good the fishermen were satisfied. Now, however, since the sardine business 
has grown to such large proportions, it is important that the fish should be taken regularly, as 
they cannot be kept from day to day, but must be used within a few hours after they come from 
the water, and when there are no fish the canners must stop work. 
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE POCKET FOR RETAINING THE FISH TILL NEEDED.—Another 
method of overcoming the seasons of scarcity is proposed by Mr. McLain, who owns a large weir 
at L’Etete. He intends building a pound or pocket just outside and connected with his weir, into 
which he can turn any surplus to be kept until needed. This seems an excellent plan and deserves 
to come into general favor. 
THE INTRODUCTION OF SEINES INTO THE.FISHERY.—A fisherman at Deer Island recently pur- 
chased a 75-fathom haul-seine for surrounding the fish and hauling them upon the beach, but he 
found the herring so scattered that the seine could not be used to advantage in this way. He has 
since cut the seine in pieces of 25 fathoms each, these being set across the mouths of small coves 
to retain any fish that may chance to have entered at high-water. In this way he is meeting with 
only moderate success. 
PROFESSOR BAIRD’S SUGGESTION THAT FISH EGGS BE EMPLOYED AS BAIT IN THE FISH- 
ERY.—Knowing of the use made of fish eggs as bait in the French sardine fisheries, Professor Baird 
suggested that they might be employed in the herring fisheries at Eastport, and that the difficulty 
of obtaining a constant supply might be overcome in this way. He requested the writer, while 
conducting his investigations at Eastport, to make a number of experiments in this line to ascer- 
tain whether the spawn of fishes could be successfully employed in this fishery. Accordingly, a 
quantity of salt cod-roes were obtained in Gloucester, and in company with Capt. J. W. Collins 
I visited the localities most frequented by the fish and made such experiments as were thought 
necessary for settling the question. From these experiments* it seems probable that fish eggs 
“The young herring are occasionally seen at the surface, but seldom in schools of any considerable size, except 
during the calmest weather. They are, however, often*seen “ breaking” in small numbers in the numerous tide eddies 
and in places where two currents meet. This is most noticeable on the “ young flood,” when the fish are most fre- 
quently in the channels. Accordingly, the flood-tide was selected as a suitable time for testing the matter, and when 
the desired locality had been reached the boat was “hove to” and allowed to drift with the tide while the bait was 
being thrown. The eggs separated nicely and sank slowly as they were carriél away by the current until they were 
finally lost to sight. The work was continued for nearly an hour, but the fish refused to ‘‘rise to the bait.” 
Thinking the locality unfavorable, Casco Bay Eddy, a favorite resort of the herring, was visited, and another 
