206 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STAPLES FISH COMMISSION. 
At tliis point tlie debate drifted into parliamentary joatters, and the consideration 
of the bill was postponed until the following day, May 21, wheu the following discussion 
ensued : 
Mr. Eeed, of Maine. As this measure which is now before the House is one somewhat novel in 
its character, I feel it necessary that there should be a full, free, and frank explanation of the whole 
thing to the members of the House. In the lirst place, it concerns a very deserving class of people. 
It concerns between live and six thousand fishermen on the coast of Maine and Massachusetts, and 
New England generally. In a larger sense it concerns the whole of the people of the United States, 
because it is a food question as well as an industrial (jnestion. The class immediately concerned are 
at this time especially deserving of the attention of the House, not only because of what they have 
suffered under the unfortunate articles in the treaty of Washington, but also because to-day a difficulty 
exceedingly great and affecting them is springing up, causing them great damage and threatening 
more. The people who are engaged in the fisheries xipon the northeastern coast, owing to the treaty 
of 1870, have been suffering severely in their person and estate in ])ast times, and at this present time, 
unless there be the most careful and judicious management on the part of all concerned, there is likely 
to be greater suffering on their part and the beginning of trouble which will extend its effects all 
over the country. At this time and in behalf of this portion of our people, I present the provisions of 
this bill. And if I shall succeed, as I hope, in gaining the attention of the House and in satisfying the 
minds of the members that the request which I make is a reasonable one, the cause and objects of it 
will plead for me better than I can myself. 
The mackerel fishery is one that has been very important to the people of this country in times 
l>ast, and which can be made of equal importance in the times to come, if we judiciously attend to it. 
But there have been of late years a great falling oft’ in the character of the catch and a great change 
in the nature of the lisheries, as I will demonstrate to yon by figures. I hope to be able to point out 
to you the cause and also the remedy. In former years the mackerel used to be caught by a hook and 
line, and the result was that very fine fish were caught. But within the last ten years the nature of 
the fishery has changed very much. Instead of a hook-and-line fishery the purse-seine fishery has 
been developed, and instead of going into a school of mackerel and hauling out what could be brought 
out by hook and line, the fishermen of to-day, in larger craft, go out and surround the school of 
mackerel by nets which are placed vertically in the water and are floated by cork at the top edge. 
When the school is entirely surrounded the bottom edges of the net are drawn together into purse- 
like shape, and the result is that the whole body of fish, good, bad, and indifferent, are scooped up 
together, as if they were so much dirt. 
Now, at a particular time any one can see that such a fishery may be specially disadvantageous 
to the increase of fish. There is a time when the fish thus caught are filled with spawn and with the 
future possibilities of the production of mackerel. All these fish are taken together; and while they 
are in the spawning condition — that is, while the spawn is forming within them — they are poor and 
almostunfit for food; they are very bad for food under all circumstances. 
The proposition which I have to present to the House to-day is the same which has been put in 
operation in almost all the States with regard to the internal fisheries; that is, I ijropose that we 
shall have a close time which shall cover this period of spawning. I desire frankly to state any 
objections that there are, and I believe I know them all. It will strike you at first sight as if there 
could be nothing said against a j)rop‘^=ition as reasoualile as this is, to stop the destruction of fish in 
their spawning period when the reproduction of the fish is in very great peril. But there are 
arguments urged against it, and I am bound to say to you at the outset that our scientific men. 
Professor Baird and Professor Goode, express an opinion which I can best show by giving the opinion 
of Professor Goode, which is; 
I have never keen convinced that the abundance of Jinaelterel along our eastern coast has been in past years 
diminished through the agency of man. I am not therefore prepared to say that I believe that the prosecution of the 
spring mackerel fishing will lead to its own destruction. 
In a report on the history of mackerel, publi.shed in 3883 by The Commissioner of Fisheries, I reviewed the evidence 
at that time in existence, and I have not as yet seen any reason for changing the views therein expressed. 
1 should say to you there arc other reasons besides these which I will develop, but I want to say 
distinctly that while Professor Goode says he does not know whether such a measure is necessary for 
that piuriiose or not, I am bound to say to you that every fisherman engaged in the business does 
know, and all of them are hero before you, with hardly a dissenting voice, urging upon the ground of 
