192 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



many blue-fish as last year; of scup, sea-bass, and tautog not more than 

 one-fourth as many. Menhaden and squid were about the same. Did 

 not get more than one-tenth as many mackerel as last year. 



Vernal Clifford, net-man, set his pound for tbe first timethisyear, 



but did not do anything; did not get any run of tautog, sea- bass, or 



scup. Blue-fish were very scarce ; some squid ; very few mackerel. 



-Plenty of fish were formerly taken here with hook and line, but this 



year none could be caught. 



E. Cottle said there were very few scup ; no tautog ; very few sea- 

 bass and mackerel last season ; about half as many blue-fish as last 

 year. Squeteague and small scup quite plenty. 



Thomas Norton, net-man, did not do much this year. The net was 

 taken up early in the season. There was no run of scup, sea-bass, or 

 tautog, and the business did not pay, and he was compelled to take up 

 the pound. They could not catch any fish with hook and line. 



John Loak kept no account this year, but did not do much. Blue 

 fish were very scarce this year. Tautog, sea-bass, and scup were very 

 few. Squeteague were plenty. No run of mackerel. 



VINEYARD HAVEN. 



B. D. Crowell, overseer of herring fishery, had had charge of the 

 herring fishery six years. When he first took the river he caught 

 800,000 to 1,000,000 in a season ; but every year since the fish-pounds 

 were set at Lambert's Cove the herring have been growing less. Last 

 year he caught only 108,000. The scarcity is the same in all the rivers 

 on the island. 



B. Cromwell, net-man, said blue-fish were very scarce there last 

 season. Four years ago plenty of large scup could be taken in the 

 immediate neighborhood, but they could get none this year. Very few 

 sea-bass or tautog had been caught. 



P. S. — I saw some of the fishermen in New Bedford yesterday, (Novem- 

 ber 28.) They say the tautog were very scarce at the mouth of the 

 bay this fall. At Wood's Hole we obtained none after the 25th of 

 October ; all were very small. 



A few blue-fish were taken at Noman's Land, on the 2d of Novem- 

 ber, with hook and line, while fishing for cod. English herring (Clupea 

 elongata) have been very plenty there lately. Some of those taken were 

 full of spawn. 



VINAL N. EDWABDS. 



Wood's Hole, November 25, 1872. 



