520 THE HABITS AND MIGRATIONS OF SOME OF THE 
past thirty years specimens have been taken, but they did 
not arrive in any noticeable abundance till within the last 
sixteen years, and are at the present time again vanishing. 
During the last mentioned period I have observed them 
about Provincetown in great abundance, where they often 
presented a beautiful spectacle. At times the splashing of 
the water caused by these fish in their rapid motions in pur- 
suit of their prey, could be seen as far as the eye can reach. 
They make great havoc among their weaker neighbors, and 
some fishes have been entirely driven from our waters by this 
ferocious species. All fish which are a prey to the bluefish 
migrate on its first appearance. In the case of the mackerel, 
fishermen have noticed that when a few bluefish. have been 
caught during the mackerel season, that a few days after not 
Fig. 113. 
LA , 
EZ 
The Bill-fish, Scomberesox Storerii, 
a mackerel could be found, having been driven from the 
vicinity by the bluefish. I think it may be affirmed that the 
disappearance of so many of our smaller fish is due to the 
destructive nature of the bluefish; it even drives fish much 
its superior in size. 
In respect to our smaller fishes, the Herring ( Clupea elon- 
gata), ete., we observe a considerable decrease in the num- 
bers which now annually visit our shores, as compared with 
their former numbers. The Pogey (Alosa Menhaden) and 
the Herring ( Clupea elongata), Fig. 112, have comparatively 
almost deserted the waters about Provincetown, where I have 
_ formerly seen them in immense schools very near the shore. 
Fishermen made nets and other necessary preparations every 
year to capture them on their arrival in the spring, and the 
business was carried on extensively and profitably for many 
years, but at the present time no such fishing there exists. 
