598 
THE FOOD FISHES. 
could be distributed to all parts of our country and the Old World was so little, a liberal 
arrangement was at once commenced. 
Most enlightened nations have devoted means to the same end, particularly the German 
government. 
It was found, early in the investigations, that an alarming decrease in numbers of fish had 
occurred on the coast of New England, extending from Point Judith on the west to Monomoy 
on the east, including Narragansett Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket. 
This fact, Prof. Baird says he has no hesitation in saying, has been established by his 
own investigations, as well as by evidence of those whose testimony was taken on the subject. 
But few years since, this region was the scene of an extensive fishery, the most important 
on our coast; the number of southern or deep-sea species resorting to the inlets and bays 
to deposit their spawn being enormous. 
The Scup, Black-fish, or Tautog, Striped Bass and Sea Bass, Sheep’s-head King-fish, and 
W eak-fish. The appearance of these fish was extremely regular. Their arrival could be cal- 
culated with quite exactitude, as much so as with the migratory birds, varying only at times 
by changes of temperature, etc. There were a few that seem to have been independent of such 
fixed conditions, and whose movements were somewhat erratic, as the Mackerel, Bonito, 
Blue-fisn, etc. 
The Scup, from the Indian name Mish-cup-paug, known as Porgy in the Southern States, 
and by the early English settlers as Bream, from its resemblance to the English fish of that 
name, is an important fish in this connection, as being the species that has suffered most in 
this wonderful decimation. Its technical name is Stenotomus argyrops (Linn.), Gill. Its 
southern range is to Cape Florida, and it is found in southern waters throughout the year, 
more abundantly in June and July. 
The first run of these fish seen on our coast in the season is in May, when the largest are 
noticed ; these proceed early in June to lay their spawn. These are from two to four pounds’ 
weight, and about eighteen inches in length. It is thought that the spawning takes place in the 
eel-grass that spreads over the shoal waters of Narragansett Bay and Vineyard Sound. There 
is a regular interval noticed between the departure and arrival from point to point. For 
example, the Scup are taken at Montauk three weeks earlier than at Woods’ Holl, and a week 
earlier at the latter place than at Hyannis, still farther east. They feed upon a great varity 
of marine animals, such as worms, Crustacea, mollusks, etc., and they take a hook very readily 
as long as they remain. 
The flesh of the Scup is very much prized by most persons. It is firm and flaky, and sweet. 
Since the settlement of America, it has been the most important food fish taken in these 
waters, and the rapid diminution has caused great solicitude. 
This fish is little known north of Cape Cod. Dr. Storer says they were introduced into 
Massachusetts Bay in 1833, and that they are taken only seldom. The great numbers of this 
species of fish once known to be in the vicinity of Vineyard Sound and Narragansett Bay are 
indicated by a record of schools seen in the latter place, where the water was nine feet and the 
fish so abundant they were crowded out of water. Six hundred barrels were taken at one haul 
of the seine, near Nantucket. At one time, in 1861, seven hundred barrels were let out of a 
trap, the market being glutted. Until within about eight years, one could take Scup anywhere 
from Point Judith to Cape Cod, almost as rapidly as a line with two baited hooks could be 
thrown over and hauled in. 
The great reduction in numbers of these fish is estimated to cause the price of living among 
many families to be raised to a hundred dollars extra yearly. 
The causes of the decrease of the numbers of food fishes are placed as follows : The 
decrease or disappearance of the food upon which the fish subsist, necessitates their departure 
to other localities. 
Epidemic diseases, or peculiar atmospheric agencies, such as heat, cold, et cetera ; 
destruction by other fishes ; the agency of man, being manifested either by the pollution 
of waters, by the refuse of factories, or the excessive over-fishing, or the use of improper 
apparatus. 
