41. There are no particular number employed in catching the fatback, as that is not made a specialty. The fishermen in this vicinity have nets to suit, and look after all kinds of fish. About 200 boats are employed in the two townships adjacent to this station, with an aggregate number of men amounting to about 500.

42. Some of the fish caught during winter are used on the spot, and some are carried to the country towns, villages, and farming districts and sold, while those caught in summer are used for manure.

43. There are no oil-factories here.

47. Seven dollars per barrel was paid for menhaden in 1873. I have no account of previous years.

58. The catch does not appear to diminish them.

69. Statement of Wallace R. Jennett, Cape Hatteras, N., C. February 26, 1874.

1. Menhaden and Fatback.

2. They are more abundant and less cared for than any of the finny tribe.

3. They are not so abundant as ten years previous.

6. They arrive in October and November principally, and may be found to be larger at the time of their departure.

7. The fish generally are seen upon the surface of the water so as to attract birds.

8. They come from the north, caused by the prevailing winds at that season of the year.

9. Yes.

10. They seem nowise sly, and are very regularly driven from the regular course.

11. On the ebb and flood alike; they are seen to float without any material difference, having no particular favorite locality.

13. They prefer deep water, and are, so far as we can see, not affected by the temperature.

15. The fish on their arrival seem to be of the same age and size, no young fish are seen at all.

17. They leave in the early spring and go south.

20. Sediment and mud from the water and fine grasses.

22. The fish seem to mix indiscriminately; the sex is hardly to be observed at any time; it is not likely that they spawn on this coast at any time.

23. The water very rarely changes its color among the fish, con sequently no milt is discharged.

28. There are no young fish found in this locality.

29. The spawn is never seen to run from the fish as from the shad, rock, perch, and others.

31. Crabs, lice, and other living animals are found attached to them at times in the gills and on the backs.

32. They fall an easy prey to sharks, bluefish, and porpoises; thousands are thus destroyed, furnishing food for other fishes that may follow in their track, such as drums, trout, &c.

33. Epidemics and distempers are very rare, but are sometimes prevalent; at which time they have drifted ashore in such abundance that the stench has been fearful.

34. They are caught and taken with immense purse-nets, made of cotton twine, 200 fathoms long by 25 to 30 feet deep.

36. Sloops or cat-boats are used to carry seines and men, at least 3 or 4 in number, with an aggregate of 25 men.

38. The entire day is often used in catching these fish.

40. The wind at all times seems to affect them, as they are seen frequently running before it, and in quick motion.

41. At the present time there are no arrangements made to capture the fatback. The business has not seemed to pay, for want of transportation.

42. The fish when caught were used on the spot. The oil was pressed from them by hydraulic press, and the refuse was used as fertilizer.

58. It is probable that the fish caught does tend to diminish their numbers and quantity.

70. Statement of A. C. Davis, Beaufort, N. C., February 14, 1874, and January 27, 1875.

1. Fatback.

2. More abundant than any other species.

3. Increased.

4. No establishment in 1873; cannot state for other years.

5. Does not.

6. In June; main body arrives in July; increase in size after arrival, and are largest in October. Schools are constantly coming in (in the season) at short intervals.

7. Swim on the surface except when disturbed; they then sink, and in a short time reappear! Arrival is known only by their appearance in schools on the surface of the water. This latter, perhaps, may arise from the fact that about the time of their first appearance no fishing is carried on by nets; it is, however, generally considered that their arrival is first known as stated. They make a distinct ripple on the water, and are easily known from other fish. They attract birds, &c.

8. Southward, ascend the rivers, drift in schools up and down with the ebb and flood tides.

9. Regular and certain; they have never failed; seem to return in greater abundance; perhaps this is due to the fact that only a small quantity have been captured yearly in this locality.

10. Are taken by nets, &c., inside the inlets; are easily taken. The

use of nets does not scare them further from the shore, but the rivers are not very wide.

11. Always swim or drift with the tide.

12. In the channels of the rivers.

13. The deepest; when attacked they swim near the bottom.

14. Are not seen after October, or, say, early in November.

15. Do not breed here; they arrive here one-fourth to one-half grown; neither two-year old fish nor the oldest arrive at their first appearance. 16. Not less in size than named in 15.

17. Main bodies in October and early in November, by degrees. 18. Proceed south.

19. Southward.

20. Having no teeth, they feed off the slime, scum, &c., on the surface of the river.

21. Further south; cannot say where. I have given this matter some attention, and from what I consider the best information they spawn at sea, not in the rivers, early in the spring.

22. No. On their appearance in the rivers the sexes are mixed indis criminately.

23. Is colored late in the season, but is only noticed at the time of the "catch or "take."

28. Not in this locality.

29. Has been found to run in a late catch.

31. Not.

32. Severely from sharks, slightly from porpoises, late in the season; when at the inlets they are attacked by bluefish.

33. Never has.

34. Cotton and gill twine nets, after being partially worn in taking other fish, are unfit for further use after the first season; slime, &c., rot them.

35. Generally 50 fathoms in length; 50 to 60 meshes, of 14 inches to 1 inches per mesh, deep.

36. Open boats and canoes only, carrying from 10 to 25 barrels, are used in this locality.

37. Two (2) men to each canoe and net. In making what is called a drop or haul, 4 to 6 nets are used. The school is surrounded, the fish are meshed in the net, shaken from the nets into the boat or taken out of the meshes by hand. The fish are never hauled to the beach.

38. One haul generally loads the canoe; two loads can be made in one day; the time occupied for each load is from 2 to 4 hours.

39. More on the ebb.

40. Are more numerous in moderate weather with southerly winds. 41. Only boats and canoes, as named in 36. Very few were engaged in the business, though enormous quantities of the fish were present in the rivers, during this last season.

42. At this time only, for agricultural purposes on the spot. None are sent abroad.

43. None.

47. Fifty (50) per barrel of 3 bushels. In previous years, 60 to 65. 50. Three-fourths gallon to 1 gallon at the first run in June.

51. Four gallons to 5 gallons in October and early in November. 52. Are one-fourth larger and yield more.

53. Three manufactories have been established (several years since); but all have suspended operations.

55. Scrap was sold principally at Baltimore and other northern points. 56. Is excellent for mixing with tar, ochre, &c., for painting roofs of houses, also water craft. It is also valuable in applying to cattle, hogs, &c., for the extermination of vermin.

57. In previous years 75 cents per gallon.

58. Does not.

71. Statement of W. T. Hatsel, Body's Island N., C., March 4, 1874, and February 23, 1875.

1. Fatback.

2. There are three times as many.

3. Neither diminished nor increased (diminished 1875).

4. Fifty thousand barrels in 1868; Excelsior Works at Ocracoke Inlet; Adams & Co., Beaufort, N. C.; and Church & Co.

5. No.

6. There are two main bodies; one in the spring (April), another in the autumn (October).

7. They swim high and make a ripple, which attracts birds.

8. North and south.

9. Sometimes they fail for a season.

10. No.

11. They scatter at the flood.

12. Around inlets near the shore.

16. Yes, between first and last; approach 3 inches long.

17. In very cold weather..

18. Southward.

19. Somewhere south.

20. They live by suction.

21. In the sounds.

23. Yes, it is colored white.

26. They are supposed to sink.

29. Sometimes.

30. Sharks, porpoises, and bluefish. If the parent devours them it must be done when quite young, or at spawn-time.

31. Worms are found in the gills and outside; lampreys are also found outside.

32. They suffer very much.

33. What the nature of the epidemic is, I cannot say; I have known them to die to some extent.

34. Purse-seines.

35. Five hundred yards long and 50 deep.

36. Cat-boats of 6 tons.

37. Seven men.

40. They move against the wind.

41. I believe there are none in the State.

42. Used for oil and scrap; the oil is sent to New York, the scrap to Baltimore.

43. There are now none.

46. The Excelsior Company's cost $30,000; Church & Company's cost $5,000; Adams & Company's cost $5,000.

47. Twenty-five cents.

48. One barrel of fish produces 1 gallons of oil.

49. Seventy-five gallons.

52. Yes.

54. New York.

55. Baltimore, Md.

56. For tanning purposes.

58. Does not perceptibly (1874). Yes (1875).

72. Statement of W. A. Harn, Morris Island, S. C., January 21, 1875.

In reply to circular dated December 20, 1873, requesting information of fisheries and the habits of fish on this coast, I would say that there are no fisheries near this station, and the only fish that are caught here are the whiting, trout, and sheephead, and those in very small numbers.

73. Statement of Patrick Conner, Daufuskie Island Light, 8. C., March 15, 1875.

1. Mossbunker, or bony shad.

2. There are five hundred thousand per cent. more than any other. 3. It has increased.

4. None.

5. There is no capture of them to have any effect.

6. In May. The main body come in June; they are; there are.

7. They swim high, make a ripple, and attract birds.

8. I know not their route; they come into the sound and go out with the tide.

9. It is. I never knew them to fail.

10. I cannot say. I never saw them caught.

11. They come in with the flood and go out with the ebb.