BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 267 
contents, were preserved in alcohol. Twelve of these stomachs were of 
about the same size, and contained on an average drams of food ; 
one was considerably larger, and contained 8 drams of food. The spe- 
| cies composing the food varied in their relative abundance in the dif- 
j ferent stomachs, but in all cases the bulk of the contents consisted of 
I copepods, and in some this group of crustaceans formed nearly the en- 
tire mass. Pleuromma, sp., was apparently the most common of the cope- 
; pods, with Galanus , sp., very abundant; Candace pectinata rare to com- 
mon, and Centropages typicus rare. Themisto bispinosa was rare to 
common, and always conspicuous from its color ; Macruran larvae and 
young Schizopods occurred sparingly; Sagitta and Spinalis, sp., were 
abundant. Nematode parasites were common in nearly all the stomachs. 
56.— NOTES ON CERTAIN FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF EASTPORT, 
MAINE, IN 1886. 
By R. EBWAE© EARLL. 
I.— THE WINTER HERRING FISHERY AND THE FROZEN-HERRING TRADE. 
The frozen-herring trade of the United States originated with Glouces- 
ter fishermen, who brought the first cargoes from Newfoundland in the 
winter of 1854-’55, and found a ready sale for them at Gloucester and 
Boston. Others soon engaged in the business, and within a few years 
quite a number of vessels were employed regularly in bringing frozen fish 
from Newfoundland to the New England markets. 
The hardships encountered in the long and dangerous passage to and 
from the island during the winter months deterred many who would 
gladly have engaged in the business from visiting Newfoundland, and 
these began to look for localities nearer home from which they could 
purchase their fish. The abundance of herring at Eastport soon at- 
tracted the attention of this class, and about 1866 vessels in this trade 
began to come to this locality, which from its position warranted the 
using of smaller craft, and from its nearness to the market enabled them 
to make a much larger number of trips during the season. The greater 
competition, however, soon advanced the cost of fish so that the profits 
of the winter’s work were usually no greater, if indeed as great, as if the 
vessels went to Newfoundland. The trade at Eastport has, however, 
gradually increased, and for the last ten years has had a very decided 
influence upon the prosperity of the fishermen on either side of the line 
separating Canada and the United States. The trade has varied con- 
siderably from year to year, owing to the mildness or severity of the win- 
ter, which has a decided influence upon the industry, a cold winter ren- 
dering it prosperous, while frequent thaws often result in serious loss 
to all concerned, and, owing to the risks incurred, cause buyers to re- 
