The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-17
MEAHADEA IADOS4RY.
Government Experts Study ON Board the
Arizona and ouiokstep.

ted States Fish Commissioner MacDon-
aid for the fiscal year ending June Soth,
1895, will be that relating to the men
haden fisheries along the coasts of New
York, New England and New Jersey.
This portion of the report has been
completed, and will be transmitted to
congress with that Of the commission.
For years the two chief branches of
the fishing industry have been in con-
flict, the hook-and-line market fisher
men, with their powerful allies, the
saltwater anglers, being the agrees
sors, the menhaden purse seiners their
opponents. The former charge the lat
ter with materially diminishing the
supply of food fishes by catching them
in vast quantities In their purse nets
and grinding them with menhaden to
make oil and fertilizers. This allega-
tion is denied by the purse seiners, who
admit that occasionally large numbers
of food fishes have been caught by
them. Such captures it is claimed are
very rare, and, whether sent to market
or ground for scrap and oil In the facto-
ries, the total amount so taken Is hard
ly appreciable when compared with the
total catch of the commercial fisheries.
Furthermore, the purse seiners claim
that this occasional taking Of food fish
by them Is far less Objectionable than
cases that have often happened in the
market food fishery, where quantities of
fish have been taken to sea from New
York and other ports and thrown over
board by the crews of the fishing yes
sells, because there was no demand for
the fish and no facilities for kespink
them. ~
With the view of obtaining definite
data upon which to base conclusions In
regard to the dispute, the United States
commissioner of fisheries decided to
place upon two menhaden steamers
trained experts, to remain with the
vessels during the entire season. These
We're given strict instructions to Keep
accurate records of the number and
species OF fish taken, the locality in
which taken, and the final disposition
of the same. The two vessels selected
were from different sections of the
coast, and during their cruises covered
the full area of the fishing grounds,
from Maine to North Carolina.
The taking OF menhaden (Brevoortia
tyrannusD for the purpose of convert
ing them into oil and guano, is one Of
the most prominent fisheries prosecu-
ted with vessels on the eastern coast of
the United States. The fishery. Is car
ried on every coast state from Maine to
North Carolina. inclusive, with the ex-
ception Of Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire, and is very extensive in
Rhode Island Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey and Virginia. The shore
industry dependent on the fishery Is
very important. affording employment
to many persons and representing large
Investments.
At the present time between fifty and
fifty-five menhaden factories are in OPP
GRAFTON annually; the value of the plant
is about $s25,0O0. and the additional
cash capital is 100000. The number Of
persons employed as factory hands and
In other capacities about the factories
is about 1000. The vessels engaged In
taking the menhaden and in transport
ing the catch number about 1856, worth,
with their apparatus and outfit, over
$3.50, 900. The fishermen number about
1900. The total investment In this in
dustry Is fully 81, $50 600 The number
Of fish taken and the quantity Of oil and
fertilizer prepared annually vary con-
siderably from, year to year. Some
years over 100000 600 fish have been
handled by the factories.
Clarence Latimer an employe; w. P.
Hay, teacher OF zoology In the Wash
ington City High school; e. F. Locke,
field agent, and Andrew E. MarchallS
were detailed to prosecute the inquiry
concerning the fisheries. The steamers
Quickstep and ARIZONA of New London,
and the ]. w. Hawkins of Ononcock,
Va, were chosen for observations. The
agents were instructed to keep q. mi
mute record of all operations. The past
season was considered representative
one. The Quickstep mostly frequented
the outer coast of Long Island, the Ari-
IONA in Long Island Sound and off the
adjacent coasts of Rhode Island and
Massachusetts, and the Hawkins In
Chesapeake bay, along the Maine coast
and in Boston harbor
During the time when the observa-
tons were conducted on the Quickstep
that Is from May 10 to June q, the
catch of that vessel was 2,532, 900 men
haden. The number Of menhaden TAX.
en- by the Arizona In the remainder OF
the season was 1S,174,000 The COM
bined catch of these two vessels while
their operations were being studied by
q raufs of tho oo,p Dni eSiop was tbarafore
1S,706,S 800 menhaden. The Arizona took
about 5,S70,000 fish before June %, and
during the entire season obtained $4,000
900 menhaden. The catch In 1894 was
the largest in the history of the vessel
with the exception of one season, when
nearly 23,000,000 were secured. The
catch of the steamer J. w. Hawkins
during the year 1894 was 1901 1856 men.
haden.
The inquiries OF the commission thus
related to and completely covered the
fishing operations, during which 1885,.
755 menhaden were caught, this quanti-
ty representing about one-twentieth Of
the total yield of menhaden in 1894, an6
affording, with the other data obtained
| a reasonable basis for CONGRATULATIONS
| on certain important points.
The number of other fish taken with
| the menhaden was 94.795. OF these, 49,.
S93 We're what are ordinarily termed
foolish. and 902 were of no recognized
| value as food The former consisted
chi ely Of fish useful In the manufae.
ture of oil and fertilizer in addition tx
having considerable value as food ane