THE SMELTS 
267 
than 2,326 persons fishing for smelt were actually counted, leaving out of consideration the number 
who were out during the very early morning. In notebooks which were placed at every pier and 
yacht club for the purpose of registration as a part of the general census, 144 persons reported their 
catch to be 1,095 dozens. Computed roughly, this averages more than 90 fish apiece, or 6)^2 
pounds figured at the rate of 14 fish to the pound. Continuing on this same basis the 2,326 persons 
observed in the act of fishing on this morning might easily have taken about 15,119 pounds, or 7 3^ 
tons, of smelt, with an approximate value of no less than $3,023.80. But even this is not the full 
money value, for in addition to actual market value these fish surely must be considered as of some 
worth from the viewpoint of providing recreation. As a very conservative estimate let it be con- 
sidered that the sporting value to the fishermen of catching these fish averaged 10 cents per hour, 
and each person stayed out for three hours. This gives a total of 6,978 hours with a value of 
$697.80 to be added to the actual market value of the fish of $3,023.80. 
Writing from Quebec under date of November 21, 1903, Chambers (1903a) said: 
There is an unusual run of smelt at present in the St. Lawrence, and the small boys who can 
steal a few hours from school or books to fish with rod and line from the wharves on either side of 
the harbor of Quebec are enjoying the fun of making big scores. 
Again he wrote (1893) : 
The wharves are lined with fishermen of all sizes, ages and tackles. Forty rods on one barge, 
all catching, is not an unusual sight. Even the ladies enjoy the sport from the decks of the Quebec 
Yacht Squadron. 
LOCALITIES 
Massachusetts . — Black Rock, North Cohasset, Marblehead, Gloucester, Hull, 
Paddocks Island, Hingham, Weymouth, Quincy Point, Inner Brewster, Spectacle 
Island, Thompson Island and other places in Boston Harbor. (Forest and Stream, 
1874.) 
Black Rock. (“ S. K. Jr.,” 1876.) 
Hull Bay, Neponset, Dorchester Bay, Hingham, Downer Landing, Ware River, 
Black Rock, Annisquam River, Ocean Spray, Apple Island Flats, Winthrop Flats, 
Merrimac River, Neponset River, Weymouth River. (Cutter, 1885.) 
Nantasket, Weir River, Bumkins Island, Paddocks Island, Strawberry Hill, Hull, 
the little bight or “hook” that makes the land between Hull Yacht Club pier and 
the steamboat landing. (Hallock, 1893.) 
Hull, Hingham, Nantasket, Downer Landing, Quincy, Dorchester Bay, South 
Boston Bay, Peddicks Island. (Smart, 1894.) 
Dorchester Bay, around Boston. (“Hackle,” 1895.) 
Weir River in Hingham, Weymouth River, anchorage of the Nantasket steamers 
at Nantasket. (“Hackle,” 1896.) 
Bays and inlets along the Massachusetts coast; Cohasset. (“Special,” 1899b.) 
Cohasset. (“Special,” 1900.) 
Essex River. (Fishing Gazette, New York, March 16, 1907.) 
Maine . — According to the personal recollections of the present writer, smelts 
were caught at the wharves in Portland, Me., in Back Bay, at the mouth of the 
Presumpscott, and in other places about Portland; also in Mill Creek at Falmouth 
Foreside, Yarmouth River, and Harraseeket or Freeport River, at South Freeport 
and Porters Landing. Ice fishing localities are mentioned in connection with the 
commercial fisheries. 
