The sun., 1898-02-20
WINTER HABITS OF FISH.
An Oid Fishcrrnan'o Gueos ConcsruipE Some OF
the wonders OF the Deep.

the Wondern OF the Deep.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The article
in last Sundays SUN entitled "A Nursery Of
the Sea" is only an eye opener as to the habits
of fish. Fish are, except the birds, tho best
pilots in the world. Either the birds or fish
know more when asleep about plotting than q
man pilot does when awake.
Now as to the habits Of fish. They come on
the coast in the spring when the migratory
instinct starts them out OF their winters sleep.
In winter they are in a dormant state. like the
bear, skunk, and woodchuck. The old theory
that fish migrated south is all wrong. Fish
simply leave the coast and go offshore on tho
northern edge of the Gulf Stream, get into water
OF the right temperature. and 60 into winter
quarters. Before the time comes for them to
start on their annual pilgrimage for the winter
quarters they have taken ON a good coat OF
fat. 1t is under their skin. and their stomach
is lined with it, and it is also all through their
bodies when they arrive at the spot that they
have selected for their winter home. Then there
grows over their eyes a white film, and their
vent Closes and SO they remain until the time
comes for them to start for their summer home.
have seen the menhaden rise to the top Of
the water outside of Amagansett, ten miles
from the land. going al speed of five miles an
hour on q north. northeast coast. and know that
they were just from their winter home. Ihave
seen them leave the coast at Manhegan. at Mon.
tauk, at Fire Island, at Barnegat ut Hereford,
and have followed them for miles TO sea. when
all my experience has taught me to believe they
were going into winter quarters. and as We were
patrolling the coast and saw them no more that
fall it makes me believe was right. The por-
gy in the spring locates in Buzzards Bay and
Vineyard Sound. About the first Of August he
begins to work west from about Tuckernuck TO
up OIL Cape Page. then into the deep water of
Woods Holl and Tarpaulin Cape. Then in q
few days he will be found in Buzzard's Bay. of
first OF September. The fishermen will make
good catches for day and then the
there are millions Of barrels OF them now
within 200 miles OF Block Island. Ono day in
August four years ago saw a body OF drumfish
me rate OF four miles an hour. and a low est. Il.
Ihave seen weakfish in bodies off Long Branch
coast to winter quarters-more fish in one school
than we we consume ;n OF that variety M in one year
q great way out a. sea. They had become chilled
years ago the farmers on Narragansett Beach
picked up and sent to New York one day in May
and were helpless in the surf, and they ali had
the white film over their eyes.
caly to figure from; we only see them " hen
being so much with them we think we can make
good guess. The above is my guess. l know
nothing: but 1 believe there will at times al
ways be plenty Of fish; believe the Almighty
still has control Of them that man is not a
factor to decrease or increase them. If were to
make a prophecy as to the future results OF the
murderous policy of the Southern fishermen in
disturbing tho fsh off their coast in the winter
should say that they will be sorry for it In the
near future, for think it will hurt their sum
mer fishing. II does not pay to go against n law
of nature In fish life any more than in our physi-
cal lives. JAMES b. CHURCH,
TIYERToS, r, l., Feb. ID