5G8 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [78] 



practicable to have made investigations on the east side of tbe bay on 

 the date of our sailing from Hampton Eoads. We therefore worked 

 our way along the west shore of the bay, and on the night of the 11th 

 anchored in Mobjack Bay, where we lay until the morning of the 12th. 

 We then ran across to Tangier Island and made as complete an investi- 

 gation as was practicable. On the morning of the 13th we left Tangier 

 Island and ran across to Mosquito Point, Rappahannock River, and from 

 thence down to Hampton Roads, where we arrived about 7 p. m. 



I desired to carry out the instructions to the extent of pursuing the 

 investigation along the eastern side of the bay as far as Cherrystone, 

 but I found it impracticable to do that and return to Hampton Roads 

 at the time designated in my instructions. However, if I understand 

 the instructions correctly , I believe that the information I have obtained 

 relating to the trap fisheries along the Chesapeake Bay is what is 

 required.* 



The following is a brief statement of the facts obtained from inter- 

 views with men carrying on the trap fisheries : 



Between Old Point Comfort and Back River Light there are nearly 

 100 fish-traps, employing about 400 men. Many of these traps are taken 

 up about the first of June, and the men who fish them are engaged in 

 fishing during the rest of the season by the menhaden "factory" sit- 

 uated upon Back River, which employs 160 men. 



The first shad taken this season were caught on the 15th of March. 

 Thus far this season shad have been more abundant than for several 

 years previous. As a rule, the greatest quantity of shad are taken 

 from the 1st to the 15th of April. Herring are caught somewhat earlier 

 in the season. But little effort is made to catch them, since they are 

 not of much value in the markets. 



From the middle of May to the middle of August considerable quan- 

 tities of blue-fish, mackerel, trout, mullet, and black-fish are taken ; 

 also sturgeon are caught occasionally. 



On April 10, 1,100 shad were taken from one trap, which is the 

 largest number ever caught at one time by the owner of the trap. I 

 learned, however, that fishing had not been good on the east side of the 

 bay, from Cape Charles to ten miles above it, owing to the prevalence 

 of easterly winds during the spring. 



The traps between Old Point Comfort and Back River Light are said 

 to cost on an average $400, and a trap will last three years. The fish- 

 ermen state that $1,000 are realized from each of the traps in this sec- 

 tion of the bay. 



Messrs. Brooks, Hutchins & Co., who are owners of fish traps in Mob- 

 jack Bay, say that they are catching shad, jacks (hickory shad), ale- 

 wives, and menhaden. Their first shipment of fish was made on March 

 30, and was composed chiefly of shad and herring. They state that 



* The terms "trap fisheries" and "traps," as used in this report, refer to pound-net 

 fisheries and pound-nets. — J. W. Collins. 



