New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-29

the fishermen discovered the tags. without any
record being made OF the tag numbers. In a few
Instances fishermen have failed To report the catch
ING OF the tagged cod through fear that there
some penalty attached the killing OF such fish
In a number of instances the tags have not been
observed for some tine after the dsh were caught
IN az least one case a tag was overlooked BY the
man who caught the Ash by the -aen who cleaned.
split and sailed il. BY the man who unloaded IL
from the vessel. BY those who handled II on shore
by the Wholesale and retail dealers and was event
ually found BY consumer remote from the shore
and forwarded 70 the commission
Among the Subjects which it was expected the
tagging might throw light and thus prove OF
practical interest, were the rate OF growth OF ths
COO the frequency Of its spawning. the extent to
which the individual fish migrate the rate OF move
ment, etc.
OWlHg 10 the comparatively short time eIapsing
oet"een the release and the capture OF the tagged
'sh Dut little opportunity was afforded for obtain
hs data OF much value the rate OF growth Of
7e species. The records show a great trregularity
III the changes in weight, some fish increasing IN
oraiAate!y, some but little. and some not az all.
me tagged fish recaptured were at liberty rom two
days TO fifteen months. the average time being four
OF nve months Among the most striking OF
increase IN weight was that OF the hsh longest at
Hoerty- II was a spent male, whose weight when
released was four pounds. and when captured A.
Teen months later was seven pounds eight ounces.
Another noteworthy increase was that OF an I'M
mature male weighing three pounds eight ounces
when released and seven pounds when caught after
sixty-four days. In few cases the fish either re-
NAMED stationary or lost IN weight. several losing
as much as pound in weight
The range OF the tagged cod as Judged BY those
caught, Is from Georges Bank to Atlantic City.
" J. The localities mostly frequented were me
south shore OF Long Island Narragansett Bay and
the adjacent shores and Nantucket Shoals. Shortly
or Immediately after their release there was a we'll
marked southerIy and westerly movement 70 the
n F-~-Lr
remained during the first four months OF the year
feature OF the fishing season OF 1seO-'O1 was the
taking OF tagged fish further south than IN any y
the other years. IN the vicinity Of Atlantic CITY
which is about the southern limit OF the cod fish
cry The fish showed but slight tendency go
shs eastward OF Cape Cod or OF Nautucksr
Shoals. None OF the tagged fish were taken north
Of Cape Cod One OF the most interesting conc1u-
siOns IS that the cod which the shores or
New-York and New-Jersey in winter DO not repre-
sent an independent body OF fish which have come
from some offshors grounds at this season. but
are part OF the great schools Of shore cod which
also frequent the Southern New-England coast.
peculiar feature is that while OF some lots a
comparatively large percentages were caught. OF
other lots were recaptured.
The observations on the rate OF travel are obvi-
ously unsatisfactory and untrustworthy. owing %
the impossibiIity Of determining the route OF the
fish.
Only a few cod were rscaptursd IN the season
following their release. and only one was taken
more than a year after liberation The failure 10
obtain Information regarding the Whereabouts Ok
the tagged hsh after the first season Is one OF the
most interesting developments OF the experiment
II Is probable that OF the tin tags we're com
pletely eroded after the first year this is not
the case with the copper tags. It IS clearly evi-
lent that the explanation OF the point under con-
sideratiOn lies not n the tags. but with the fish
themselves. although what the real explanation Is
only be surnised-
While most OF the tagged fish were taken on
lines number were caught in dxsd appliances.
Perhaps dozen were secured in trap pound
nets IN New-Jersey. Rhode Island and Massachu-
sets. and one was caught in lobster pot in Con
nsCticut