Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-21

AND THEIR NEEDs-THK USE OF STEAM VESSELS
BY FISHERMEN.
The Grampus, the Fish commission schooner,
is at work in the Gulf Of Mexico, and in con-
nection with the Fish Hawk, is making Q
thorough investigation of the gulf fisheries.
both as to their present condition and their
possibilities from an economic standpoint
The fisheries of the gulf have never been
thoroughly developed, and the main object Of
the present expedition Of the Grampus is TO
secure practical information that will
be of value to the fishermen. The Fish
Hawks work is mainly in connection
with experiments looking to the possibility of
increasing the supply by artificial propagation.
These experiments are conducted chiefly with
the mullet. a gulf fish that is regarded a
most valuable and delightful addition TO the
food supply OF the gulf region. The red snap
per is the fish chiefly sought for by the toilcrs
of the sea in that region. and the Grampus
is devoting itself largely to determin-
ing the most profitable fishing grounds for
the fish. 1t takes a section of the coast, and
sailing on parallel lines, about ten miles apart,
makes soundings and trials for fish at regular
intervals. In this way, going over line after
line, the work of the Grampus, in connection
with that done by the Albatros in 1885, will
afford very complete knowledge of the fishes
and the prevailing conditions, in the
area explored. One result of the
Albatros' trip was the discovery of fish in
abundance in places never resorted TO before
by fishermen. but which now are fishing
grounds. Similar results are likely TO follow
the visit of the Grampus to those waters. The
Grampus viii remain probably until May.
THE COD HATcHINo.
The cod Matching in Gloucester harbor has
been conducted this year with a gratifying
measure Of success despite disasters due TO bad
weather. The eggs have been obtained from
vessels OF the fishing feet, as the Grampus has
been engaged in the gulf. The difficulties at
tending the treatment of the cod eggs have
been overcome, and the fishermen of the
Massachusetts coast have already had what
they believe to be evidences of the
success of cod Matching. The fish COM
mission first Matched and planted cod there
IN the winter of 1873 and 1879. The unusual
abundance Of cod two years ago was attributed
TO the work Of that winter. The commission
suspended its work in this direction that winter
and did not take it up again until three
young cod, from eight to sixteen inches
in length, were caught in the pound nets, and
these were supposed to be from the embryos
Matched and deposited in the sea by the Fish
commission. 1t is not definitely determined
how long it takes to hear from a plant of
cod. Ii is estimated that cod requires from
four to seven years to reach maturity.
THE PACIFIC COAST.
Capt. ]. W. Collins. of the fish commission.
has just completed paper concerning some
practical questions regarding the fisheries Of
the Pacific coast. Capt. Collins stated to a STAR
reporter that a serious problem on the west
coast was the question Of getting fish to market
The vessels engaged in the halibut fisheries are
| often becalmed. At San Francisco fishermen
60 out In smallsai boats a distance of twenty
or thirty miles. When the wind fails them they
are compelled to tax the crew to their
utmost in order to row their heavily laden
boats to the city, or else lose the whole cargo
Even with the best efforts they can make the
hSh often arrived at the market in bad condi-
| ton. Captain Collins recommends the use
| of small and comparatively inexpensive
| steamers which either work indie
| pendently, having fishing crews and
| apparatus aboard. or go out and collect the fish
caught by the fishermen in the sail boats, leav-
| ing the latter to go on with their work. Such
steamers are employed in many of the Euro
pean fisheries.
STEAM VERSUS SAILS.
The American fishing schooner has long been
the pride not only of American fishermen but
of Americans generally. There is some
ground, however. for believing that the
| schooner will before long give way
| to steamers built for the fishing service The
great contest among fishermen of the New Eng
| land coast is to get to market first and to get
there with their cargoes in good condition.
| The construction of the Grampus a few years
ago caused something of a revolution in the
ideas to the form of a fishing schooner.
The Gfampus was built with view to secure
high rate of speed with the maximum amount
| of safety, one purpose being to demonstrate
| that the terrible loss of life on the
fishing banks was not necessary if a
better type of vessel was adopted
| Since the Grampus was constructed, Burgess,
the great yacht builder, has been employed
| upon designing fast fishing schooners Even
| the fastest schooners cannot sail in
a dead calm or make much prog
ress against a head wind. Steamers
with auxiliary sails, Capt Collins thinks, would
| be economical in saving time. With the
steamers such as he has in mind naval fishing
could be carried on from the vessel when the
sea is too rough for dories to go out.