FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
19 
are available to afford similar comparisons. Furthermore, it has been shown on 
page 13, as well as in the discussion of the various species, that most commercial 
species, including nearly all the fish that commonly are caught in pound nets, leave 
the bay upon the approach of cold weather in the fall and that they return the follow- 
ing spring. Because of the especially strategic position of the present fishery — 
almost within the mouth of the bay — it seems probable that a somewhat equal 
percentage of the entire body of migrating fish may be caught from year to year. 
The only exception that has been found to this supposition in the study of the records 
Fig. 8.— Graphic representation showing the 
number of pounds of summer flounders 
(Pamlichtliys dentatus ) taken from 1912 to 
1922 at the Buchanan Bros, fishery, arranged 
by years. Note the apparent increase in the 
abundance of this fish. The straight, heavy 
line shows the general trend in the quanti- 
ties caught 
April May June July Aucy Sept. Oct Nov 
Fig. 9. — Graphic representation showing the number of 
pounds of summer flounders (Paralichthys dentatus) taken 
from 1912 to 1922 at the Buchanan Bros, fishery, arranged 
by months 
is brought about by exceptionally large catches sometimes made within the course of 
a day or two, when apparently large schools of fish are intercepted by the nets. 
In addition to such value as the tables may have in showing the trend of the 
fishery, they also show at what time the various species appeared in Lynnhaven 
Roads in commercial abundance from year to year over the period covered by the 
records, and also when they again became scarce in that vicinity. These dates, in 
each instance, because of the location of the fishery, may be interpreted to show, in 
general, the time of arrival in and time of departure from the bay of the species 
listed. 
