294 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
so that at present the capture of menhaden is attended with but few restrictions as 
to fishing-grounds, and these apply chiefly to bays and other waters under the control 
of the States. 
As is well known, the menhaden is a fish which, as a rule, is found in comparatively 
close proximity to the land, both during the time of its sojourn on the coasts of the 
different States and during its spring and fall migrations. A large part of the catch 
has consequently always bet n taken within a few miles of the shore. 
The operations of the two vessels under consideration, which may be regarded as 
entirely typical of the fleet, are shown in the following table, which brings out in 
detail the special point under discussion. The distances from the shore within which 
the menhaden and other fish were taken are specified as (1) under one mile, (2) 
between one and two miles, (3) between two and three miles, (4) between three and 
five miles, (5) five miles and beyond. More fish were taken between 1 and 2 miles 
from shore than within any other distances; more than half were caught within 2 
miles of shore, and more than two-thirds under 3 miles from shore. Less than two- 
ninths of the total yield was obtained 5 miles or more from land, and a large part of 
the fish thus shown was secured in Chesapeake and Delaware bays. 
The farthest distance from shore at which the Arizona fished was 9=| miles. This 
was in Delaware Bay. The J. W. Hawkins took fish 9J miles off Windmill Point, 
Virginia, in Chesapeake Bay. None of the fishing of these vessels in the open ocean 
was so far from laud, and most of it was under 2 miles from shore. 
STEAMER ARIZONA. 
Species. 
Under 1 
mile. 
Between 1 
and (under) 
2 miles. 
Between 2 
and (under) 
3 miles. 
Between 3 
and (under) 
5 miles. 
Five miles 
and over. 
Total. 
3, 525, 500 
7, 057, 500 
10 
1, 891, 200 
1 
1, 486, 600 
4, 746, 000 
16 
18, 706, 800 
8 
35 
1 
1 
2 
2 
189 
312 
28 
22 
96 
647 
17 
0 
2 
3 
5 
33 
124 
288 
18 
12 
597 
12 
26 
2 
40 
i 
1 
2 
2 
1 
3 
44 
87 
74 
61 
3 
269 
2 
i 
1 
1 
5 
1 
1 
2 
231 
41 
274 
2 
1 
1 
3 
7 
1 
1 
1 
1 
3 
3 
27 
46 
73 
41 
41 
1 
1 
1 
3 
1 
1 
9 
22 
6 
5 
1 
43 
Shad 
8 
8 
52 
76 
32 
76 
87 
323 
52 
165 
35 
30 
21 
303 
10 
93 
1 
4 
108 
74 
133 
15 
i 
26 
249 
1 
1 
1 
1 
12 
3 
1 
1 
17 
8 
8 
Total 
3, 526, 154 
98 
7, 058, 866 
1, 891,785 
1, 486, 824 
67 
4, 746, 271 
143 
18, 709, 900 
619 
Number of times seine set 
234 
77 
a Includes a few hickory shad and sea herring. 
