190 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Dr. Fisher, Setk Marcliant, and W. Huckford, of Edgartown, all con- 

 firmed the statements of others as to the condition of the fishing. 



At Holmes's Hole (Vineyard Haven) they caught twenty- three English 

 herring on the 12th of November, but they had no spawn in them. The 

 fishermen say that those that come later have spawn in them. 



There have been no whiting yet, but plenty of frost-fish, with spawn in 

 them. 



No menhaden or tinker-mackerel were caught later than the 15th of 

 October, ;md there were no menhaden caught with spawn in them in 

 the neighborhood of Wood's Hole. 



Wood's Hole, Massaclmsctts, November 10. 



HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS. 



I have been to Hyannis and got the report of the fishermen, though 

 not much of an account has been kept by them this year. Hatzel Handy 

 has only kept an account of the number of barrels — 160 pounds to the 

 barrel. I saw a large number of men, but they say they keep no ac- 

 count ; though they say they have not caught more than two-thirds, and 

 some say one-half, as many as last year. 



Alexander, Crowell, a line-fisherman, in 1871 caught 8,000 pounds 

 of scup, sea-bass, and blue-fish; in 1872 he caught 5,000 pounds only of 

 the same kinds of fish. He says there were but few large scup, and 

 about half as many sea-bass as last year; that there were but few blue- 

 fish caught with the hook ; the nets took nearly all that were taken. 



Almoran Hallett, line-fisherman, had no account for 1871 ; in 1872 

 he caught, according to his best judgment, 6,000 pounds. Has never 

 known fish to be as scarce as this year. 



Hatzel Handy, a shipper or dealer, received, as shown by his books, 

 the following fish in 1872 : 



Barrels. 



May, mackerel and scup 124 



June, sea-bass, scup, and blue-fish j 238 



July, blue-fisn ;, 106 



August, blue-fish 65 



September, blue-fish 56 



October, blue-fish „ 54 



Total 643 



He says he kept a strict account of the number of barrels. He had a 

 larger number of nets this year, and that if it were not for the net-fish- 

 ing he could not have done anything this year, the hook and line men 

 have done so poorly. In May and part of June the fish were caught in 

 nets and pounds. Blue-fish were caught until the 15th of October. 

 Very many of the scup taken were small. 



Timothy Crocker, a dealer, received in 1S71, scup and sea-bass, 250 

 barrels: blue-fish, 400 barrels; in 1872, scup and sea-bass, 200 barrels: 

 blue-fish, 300 barrels. 



