Feb. 3, 1884.] 



99 



these men know it. As other waters become depleted th e 

 contrast becomes still more striking. 



These attacks have come mainly from two sources: 1. Do- 

 mestic netters. 2. The United States Menhaden Oil and 

 Guano Association. 



Of the two, our domestic netters make ns comparatively 

 little trouble. Their claim always has been very simple— 

 that the food supply of the country is dependent on them: 

 that were it not for them fish would be beyond the reach of 

 the poor. The disinterest ed ness of this clai m has never deeply 

 impressed the Legislature, in view of the fact that however 

 much the poor might indirectly profit, the immediate benefits 

 of pound netting entered the "pockets of the netters, whose 

 share in the common property becomes grossly disproportion- 

 ate to their equitable claim. 



It is otherwise with the United States Menhaden Oil and 

 Guano Association. This trust aggregation of capitalists in 

 its desire to catch menhaden for oil and guano has appar- 

 ently found Buzzards Bay a thorn in its side. So far as 

 known, Buzzards Bay has never attacked the Menhaden As- 

 sociation except in self-defense. It does not concern itself 

 with other waters; proclaims no crusade against nets; merely 

 defends itself; has no capital, no especial organization; does 

 not question the right of this rich and powerful association 

 to go anywhere its energetic and intelligent managers please 

 to send it except into Buzzards Bay. Yet for many years 

 the Association has waged unremitting war against Buzzards 

 Bay's protection. In 1889, in defiance of the law of 1880, the 

 Association's steamers openly used their purse seines in our 

 bay, inflicting injuries upon the fish supply which are even 

 now but partially repaired. They were arrested and their 

 boats confiscated after a stubborn hand to hand fight with 

 the Massachusetts officers. The legal questions involved 

 were carried to the Supreme Court ot Massachusetts on appeal 

 and to the Supreme Court of the United States by writ of 

 error. In both courts, the protection of Buzzards Bay was 

 sustained. In February, 1893, the Buzzards Bay towns were 

 called upon to remonstrate at Washington against a bill 

 brought by the Association and their allies, to"annnl their 

 legislative protection by a proposed act of Congress called 

 the "Lapham Bill." The allies of the Association were out 

 in force. The wholesale fish dealers who desired to sell the 

 fish of Buzzards Bay on commission; the fertilizer dealers, 

 who wanted to sell the ammonia and phosphoric acid of their 

 fish for manure; the oil men who wanted the porgy oil: the 

 net and t^ine men who wanted to sell the seines, etc., neces- 

 sary to catch the fish, united their money and their efforts 

 under able counsel and astute leadership against the protec- 

 tion of Buzzards Bay. The public at large were promised 

 cheaper food; the farmer cheaper anrl larger crops; the shoe- 

 maker and miner better and cheaper oil, if only Buzzards 

 Bay could be opened to the steamers of the Association. 

 Again the protection of Buzzards Bay stood; the bill being 

 rejected on such principles of the constitutional limitations 

 of congressional power as apparently preclude its revival. 

 While the bill was general in its terms, the assault in argu- 

 ment was directly on our bay. 



As this law cannot be defied with impunity or annulled 

 with success, there is but one further assault against Buz- 

 zards Bay open to the Association. It can possibly induce 

 the Legislature to repeal our protective legislation. Already 

 its fertilizer customers are attempting to persuade farmers 

 of Massachusetts that their interest lies in buying Buzzards 

 Bay fish in an ammoniated fish scrap superphosphate at s35 

 per ton wben staple ingredients, like nitrate of soda or 

 nitrate of potash will give better results for $14 to $19.50 per 

 ton; already the men who buy the Association's menhaden 

 oil are using the public press to teach the leather men. the 

 painters, the miners, that their business will thrive beyond 

 precedent if they can only get the menhaden from this little 

 tract of water. After a business career of twenty years, 

 with unlimited freedom to range the Atlantic Coast, the 

 Menhaden Association now declares that unless it can get 

 into Buzzards Bay next season, it must go out of business 

 Buzzards Bay, remembering the dreadful days of 1889, when 

 the Association literally ladled out with purse seines 100ft. 

 deep all the fish in her 12 fathoms of water for oil and 

 manure, knows that millions of property and the food and 

 livelihood of thousands of her people, demand that the 

 Association should be excluded. It is for her, therefore, 

 a matter of life and death. The Association say it is the same 

 to them. It is therefore a combat a, V entrance— a battle of 

 extermination. It is in fact a conflict of distinctive princi- 

 ples. It is fish preservation against the most destructive 

 agency ever devised by the wit of man; of the idea that 

 spawning fish should be protected in their periodical visits 

 to the coast agaist the notion that fish are inexhaustible in 

 fertility and that we know nothing about them except that 

 they must be killed whenever, wherever and however possi- 

 ble; of the people against a trust; of thousands of hardy 

 fishermen against a gigantic monopoly; of the rights of 

 the coast dwellers to the bounties of the shore against the 

 claims of foreigu capitalists to make the sources of food and 

 prosperity into superphosphate manures. Financial support 

 of the interested nature which contributes largely, Buzzards 

 Bay does not and cannot have. Moral support, if her cause 

 be just, she claims and ought to have. Ma v we hope that 

 enough has been shown to entitle her to that of this very dis- 

 tinguished congress? 



H. B. Joyce, of Massachusetts, said: I am in the mackerel 

 fishing business, and have been for quite a number of years 

 and as far as education and kuowledge of the subject goes, I 

 have the feeling that I perhaps know as much as the general 

 run. Our industry is threatened by adverse legh-lition 

 because we u«e the large seines to capture fish, and a large 

 portion of the season it is not practicable to capture them by 

 any other method. There are times, however, when the 

 hook can be used. 



The mackerel is a fish we have pursued from Cape Hatteras 

 to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, and we really feel 

 sure that the same fish travels that distance. In connection 

 with that fact I would mention other fish, like the men- 

 haden, which appears in May on the Long Island coast, and 

 the bluefish which turns up near the Florida coast, and some 

 seasons comes as far as Maine, and other seasons has been 

 known to stop as a body south of Hatteras. 



My experience leads me to believe that all fish of any size 

 except lobster and halibut, are migratory to a great extent' 

 Even the codfish, which we have taken off the shores of Cape 

 Ann have French hooks in them, whicb they must have got 

 at a distance of 700 or 800 miles from where they were final I v 

 caught. The halibut are the same. They migrate from a 

 depth of 2,500ft. of water to six or eight or ten near the* 

 shore. 



I do not know whether spawning has the effect of making 

 these fish journey or not. The movements of almost all 

 classes of migratory fishes are occasioned primarily by the 

 desire of spawning or reproduction; but in another a great 

 majority are influenced by the enemies that follow after 

 them, and in the case of these fish I remember perhaps 75 per 

 cent, of the destruction of the species is caused by enemies of 

 one class or another of migratory or predatory fish, In con- 

 nection with this we have had to compete with Canada. We 

 think that Canada has a hand in the fight in this matter 1 

 and we have information of where Canadian fishermen have 

 stated that they are negotiating, or taking measures for 



very much disappointed. There has been some legislation 

 m regard to our industry to prevent the catching of fish dur- 

 ing the spawning season. We do not have any means of 

 kuowing whether that has been of benefit or not. We have 

 had increased production for the past two seasons, perhaps 

 an increase of 200 per cent, over five years ago, and the ex- 

 periment was too short to determine really whether the re- 

 sults were beneficial or not. But if any legislation can in 

 any way benefit fish, I contend that it can only be by cover- 

 ing the hatching grounds as far as possible and protecting 

 them from damage, and that every one who fishes should 

 have a free right to use any device or invention that the 

 needs of his business may make most successful or practica- 

 ble. 



By the Chairmen— Were there any practical results from 

 the close season? 



Mr. Joyce— We know we have had a little better catch 

 for the past season. Whether that came from the close sea- 

 son or not, we don't know. 



Q. What is your judgement about making a close season 

 for mackerel? 



Mr. Joyce— The only benefit I can see to accrue from that 

 would be that the markets would be cleaner and we would 

 have a better price when we did get at it. 



Mr. Chamberlayne— Would not it take about three years 

 for the benefit to become obvious? 

 Mr. Joyce— I think it would 



Mr. Russell Reed, counsel for the Game and Fish 

 Protective Society of Massachusetts, said that for the past 

 five -years he had the honor of being the counsel for this 

 Society, and that the sentiments of the last five gentlemen, 

 except Mr. Chamberlayne, who spoke from Boston, and who 

 represented what we call the Fish Trust of Massachusetts, 

 does not entirely represent the whole sentiment of that State. 

 I shall speak for the State, and say that they do not repre- 

 sent the whole, field. We believe that laws are necessary for 

 protection of fish. In all these years ever since I came of 

 age, I have believed in protection. 



I came here years ago at the request of the Forest and 

 Stream to help form an association for the protection of fish 

 and game. Every time I find any question raised regarding 

 the protection of fish and game, especially regarding protec- 

 tion offish, I find the dealers alwavs oppose any considera- 

 tion of the subject whatever. After the law is passed we 

 have a little consideration and a little protection. But 

 always as we go along we find the right sort opposed to any- 

 thing, and I regret very much to say, with all possible de- 

 ference to some of the friends in Massachusetts who have 

 spoken to-day, that we have in our State I believe the most 

 outrageous system of game laws known to any part of the 

 United States. It is au awful thing, we know, and we. have 

 tried to remedy it. We cannot do it and it is thanks to our 

 dealers that we cannot. 



Statement of Mr. Ivers W. Adams, treasurer of the 

 American Net and Twine Co., before the Conference of 

 Fishermen, New York, Dec. 13, 1893: 



I represent the netting manufacturers who have interests 

 in common with the fishermen and in the supply of our food 

 fish, both salt and fresh water. Fish have been caught with 

 the use of nets, etc., ever since we have any record of any- 

 thing. The industry which I represent has been established 

 in this country over half a century, and its experience -with 

 fishermen and fishing firms and supplies of fish has been 

 varied, and in my opinion is of importance in determining 

 the diminution (if such there be; in this supply. I desire 

 first of all to make a point, upon which I think all parties 

 are agreed, and which should not enter into the discussion 

 of these matters, and that is that we all agreed that such 

 fish as salmon, shad, fresh-water herring, trout and kindred 

 fish whose instincts take them into fresh water to propagate 

 their species, all such fish need protection undoubtedly. It 

 is manifest that these species coming into fresh water to 

 spawn can be completely destroyed by the pollution of the 

 water or the excessive use of nets. But fish like mackerel, 

 menhaden, bass, herring, bluefish, squeteague, etc., do not 

 need protection. The supply of these fish depends more 

 upon natural causes, which causes science has not been able 

 to determine. Why there nave been years of plenty and 

 years of scarcity is still an unanswered question, and im- 

 plements of capture are not a factor in these changes. 



I present for consideration a chart showing the catch of 

 mackerel as reported by the State Commission of Massachu- 

 setts, taken and commencing with the year 1809 up to the 

 present date. No stronger argument, we believe, can be 

 adduced in regard to the changes in the supply of the sea 

 spawning fish than this simple report. It has been claimed 

 that the purse seine was the cause of the present diminution 

 of these fish. Why the purse seine was not invented or in 

 use until the year 1S65. The hook and line was the method 

 of taking these fish up to t hat date. It will be seen by simply 

 referring to this chart that during the years previous to this 

 date— 1865— there were seasons of great plenty and seasons of 

 great scarcity. Did the hook and line cause it? By no man- 

 ner of means. It will also be noted that after the use of the 

 purse seine for twenty years, one of the largest catches of 

 mackerel that was ever taken on the New England coast was 

 made in the year 1884. Therefore, does it not prove conclu 

 sively that the methods of catching these fish has nothing 

 whatever to do with the supply ? 



I am also pleased to present a list of the wholesale prices of 

 the leading kinds of fresh fish dealt in by the T Wharf Fresh 

 Fish Association, of Boston— an association which handles 

 more than one hundred millionsof pounds of fresh fish annu- 

 ally, it will be noted that the average prices of these differ- 

 ent kinds of fish were less in 1893 than in 1883, the two dates 

 during which these prices were compiled. This, we think, 

 goes to prove conclusively that the prices of salt-water fish 

 have not appreciated in value during the last decade, but, on 

 the contrary, are growing cheaper as compared with early 

 datps. 



Another point which I desire to emphasize is the one bear- 

 ing upon bluefish and menhaden. It is claimed that men- 

 haden are food for bluefish and other kinds of free roaming 

 salt-water fish. And while I do not pretend to deny that the 

 bluefish do prey on the menhaden, I do deny that they are a 

 special food for the bluefish. It seems to me that a stronger 

 evidence of this cannot be adduced than the presence in 

 Buzzards Bay this last season of immense quantities of men- 

 haden during practically the entire season, and at the same 

 time the absence, notedly, of bluefish, notwithstanding blue- 

 fish were found in very large quantities upon this coast, all 

 around the Cape and iu Vineyard Sound, but were not to be 

 found or caught in any number in Buzzards Bay. If blue- 

 fish feed upon menhaden largely, is it not fair to suppose and 

 expect that they would be found present with them? Or 

 where they were in admittedly immense quantities during 

 the larger part of the season of 1893? 



result in removing from all minds the prejudice which now 

 seems to me to exist, without cause. I should like to offer 

 the following resolution: 



_ Resolved, That the object and purpose of this conference 

 is to inquire into the general condition of the Atlantic Coast 

 h tsoenes and consider what can be done (if anything) to im- 

 prove them, and the representatives from the several inter- 

 ests be appointed to conduct this investigation and report at 

 such time as in their judgment may be thought best. 



Statement furnished by T Wharf Fresh Fish Association 

 of Boston, an association distributing one hundred million 

 pounds of fresh fish annually. Prices are for two dates, 1883 

 and 1893, showing lower average prices for the later date. 



PRICES OF FRESH FISH FOR 1883 AND 1893. 



Market Small Small Blue- 



Hackk.ek. SteaK Co,?,. Cod ft/a-kerc-l :Jh arard. fish 



1883. Ctsprlb. Ctsprlb. Ctsprlb. Cts pr lb. Ctsprlb Ctsprlb 



January.... 2% 71I 5 r 



February... 2J£ 8J^ 5 



March 2 3&i *" 



April 2 4 P 



May 2 4 214 



August 3J4 3)4 3 4y 0 H/&16 7il©10 



September;. 2g@4 5>| 2J^@4 4 9@12 9 ®lS 



October.... 2.H>@4 5 ©6 8^ MmVi 0@12 7 ©10 



November.. 4 5 @<% 2%@3^ 3^ 9©12 10 ©12 



December.. 2 ©3^ 4 ©6 2^@3^ .... 10@12 

 1893. 



January.... 3 @5 5 @8 3 ©5 



February... 2^@4 6 ©8 3^@4J£ 



Marcb 2^-&5 6 ©8 2W©5 



April 8 ©4 4 ©6 2}|@4 



Ma y msm ■mm %wmm 



8 ft 4 @6 2 ©4 .... 9©12 8 ©11 



Ju'y--: ?J&8 4 @e mm4 m» i2®is e @9 



'Vugusr ... Cy,j ;U -1 01 U]l7 , u ^ , 



September.. gjf©4 5^©7 3p5 6@8 12@ia 7 ©11 



October,... 4 6 @7 21 , f b„S 12®14 6 ©10 



November.. 8J$@4jjj 4^@7^ 2J^@4 6@7 ll@.14 7 ©10 



Statement of I. C. Young, a member of the Massachu- 

 setts Fish Commission: 



I represent the shore fisheries of Massachusetts, and when 

 I say shore fisheries, I include pounds, weirs and lobster 

 traps along our coast. These fisheries are of great value to 

 us. The pounds and weirs of Massachusetts not only furnish 

 a large, supply of food for the citizens of our own State but 

 are distributed through New England and the West. 'This 

 is not a local question, it is national. It has been well said 

 by Mr. Hushes, of Truro, "that without the traps and 

 pounds of Massachusetts Bay, the fresh fish business of Bos- 

 ton would be practically destroyed." 



Certain seasons of the ye*r they take all their bait from 

 these weirs along the coast of Massachusetts, and even to 

 Maine. If they could not procure their supply of bait here, 

 they would be obliged to go to the British Provinces, and it 

 is the experience of the past that so much time has been spent 

 about the harbors in waiting for their bait, that the trips 

 were unprofitable, even if they secured a fair catch of fish. 

 And for this reason, if for no other, our weir industries 

 should not be disturbed. 



It was the decree of the Massachusetts Legislature of 1893, 

 that Buzzards Bay should be exempted from the operations 

 of the pound and weir fishermen, after the termination of 

 their present leases. We hope to see good results from this 

 legislation, and will report to you after giving it a trial for 

 a few years. 



The matter of bluefish, of course, is an important one to 

 Ushermen and sportsmen, and many of our fishermen make 

 good money by taking these fish by hook and line or nets 

 along the coast, and particularly with hook and line in 

 Buzzards Bay and the waters of Vineyard Sound 



In 1886 there was a bill reported to the Legislature prohib- 

 iting all seining about the islands of Martha's Vineyard 

 which included all kinds of fish. An amendent was put in 

 which exempted mackerel. When the bill was before the 

 House the friends of the prohibitory bill said "there was no 

 such thing as mackerel to be found and caught within the 

 three-mile limit." The amendment was accepted and the 

 bill passed. 



1 will ask any mackerel fisherman, dealer or any one inter- 

 ested in this particular branch of our fisheries, what the out- 

 come would have been had the bill passed as originally 

 drawn? Why, sir, a very large proportion of the catch of 

 mackerel on the New England coast for the season of 1893 

 were caught on the Atlantic side of Martha's Vineyard 

 within the three-mile limit. * 

 ' I contend, as far as the fishermen of Massachusetts and 

 New England are concerned, the value of the shore fisheries 

 cannot be counted in dollars. They furnish untold employ- 

 ment for our citizens by the shore, and there are hundreds 

 of thousands of dollars invested on account of these fisheries 

 And why should they be legislated out of the State to the 

 advantage of the Provincial fishermen? They should not. 



As for the diminution of food fish in the ocean, as has been 

 said here to-day, it is beyond the power of State Legislatures 

 to regulate them. This year we haveagood catch; next year 

 of any particular kind, we may not have any. I was in the 

 fish business for years, in 1884, when there was a catch of 

 mackerel of nearly 600,000 barrels, and from that time until 

 189:3 there was a constant decrease of these valuable fish along 

 our coast, and in part I think this was owing to the over- 

 fishing of that year, as the mackerel were so abundant and 

 were taken in such large quantities, that too many small fish 

 were undoubtedly worthlessly destroyed and oihers driven 

 from our shores, and have since sought, other feeding grounds 

 They are gradually returning, and without doubt in a few 

 years they will be as plenty as in former times. 



A few words more before I finish. The protective laws that 

 Massachusetts now has on herstatute books wili be enforced. 

 And as for Massachusetts, in speaking for her, she will legis- 

 late in the future as in the past— for the greatest amount of 

 good to the greatest number. 



[to be continued.] 



negotiating, an international agreement, regarding purse net 

 fishing. Their interest in doing that is that the great bulk 

 ot their mackerel fishing is carried on by means of pound 

 nets on the Nova Scotia coast and gill nets on the entire 

 coast. The gill nets extend from a mile to six miles to sea. 

 If any sort of legislation can be had whereby we can be ruled 

 out and their system of fishing remain, I for one shall feex 



I could go on and give many more instances bearing upon 

 this point equally as conclusive to our minds, as the result of 

 our intimate connection and association with fishermen and 

 fishing firms iu this business for the last fifty years. Is it 

 for one minute to be supposed that we would advocate that 

 extent of fishing which would destroy or annihilate the very 

 means by which we gain our livelihood? 



In conclusion I would say that I feel that the different 

 sides of this question could be brought much more nearly 

 together if there were less prejudice and more knowledge 

 brought about by experience in these matters. 



Speaking tor myself and those interested with me, I feel 

 that we are entirely willing to submit these questions to 

 careful and practical investigation by representatives from 

 the different interests, I believe that such an investigation 

 carefully and thoroughly made, taking plenty of time, would 



Its Appreciation Is Continent Wide. 



From a letter written in Boston, Mass. 

 Mr. Robinson's writings are a constant delight. My old home is not 

 far from that of TJncle Lisha and the rest. I spent my vacation on, 

 the shores of Lake Champlain last summer, and had intended to- 

 initiate a "little one" of sis years into the order of bass fishers, aud 

 show him how his father used to take them when he was a boy', but. 

 alas! I arrived there sick and passed the whole two weeks in bed. Not. 

 quite that, though, for I did crawl down to the boat one day, audi 

 propped up with pillows, the boys rowed me out for a troll. 1 took a. 

 nasty long pickerel about as long as my arm and a lively little bass... 

 So ended my "93 vacation, and Forest and Stream must keep my 

 spirits up till the time again comes around to -'get among thenV 

 again. Long may you prosper, bulldog pictures and all! 



From a letter written, in Silverdale, Wash. 

 You have never had my name on the mail list, but nevertheless I 

 have managed to find Forest and Stream at almost any point in the 

 West, and have taken some long rides through the burning sun of the 

 sage plains to secure this same paper! Sometimes I have been with 

 out. it for several weeks, but always hunted up the back uumbers as 

 soon as I could reach a newsdealer, and then— well, I don't rest until I 

 have read it from cover to cover. Heretofore I have been a rolling 

 stone, never long in one place, and consequently had no fixed address, 



