species of considerable size are found in the American markets: the Greenland halibut, found in the Antic parts of the Atlantic but not very common, and the Monterey halibut, common along the coast of California. In European waters the sole (Solea vulgaris) is the common flatfish taken for the markets.
Lesser Fisheries. In addition to the foregoing more important families of fishes there are many others whose species arc not so generally important, and which are not the object of so extensive special fisheries.
The most, important member of the minnow family in America and Europe is the carp. In Europe it is extensively reared in artificial ponds, and in the United States upon introduction it becomes notoriously abundant. Its flesh is not highly esteemed in the United States, though extensively taken for the markets, where it frequently appears under a variety of names.
The suckers (Catostomidæ) are much eaten in the Mississippi Valley. The most important of these are the buffalo-fishes, the catch of which in 1896, exclusive of the Great Lakes, was 17,583,544 pounds, with a value of $418,949. Other suckers brought this sum up to $500,000.
Of greater commercial value than the suckers are the catfishes (Siluridæ). The catch in the Mississippi Valley amounted to 14,726,812 pounds in 1896, valued at $532,972.
The fresh-water sheepshead (Aplodinotus grunniens) yielded 5,246,000 pounds in 1896, with a value of $141,000. Along the east coast the sheepshead is generally regarded as one of the choicest food-fishes. The squeteague, or weakfish, and the spotted weakfish are extensively taken along the east coast of the United States.
The sea-basses (Serranidæ) include many important species, used as food in different regions of their world-wide distribution. In the United States the striped bass (Roccus lineatus) and the white perch (Morone Americana) are among the important species. The groupers are abundantly found in the markets, especially in the Southern United States and in Brazil. These are not infrequently found of great size in the markets, but are of more practicable value as objects of sport.
The wrasses (Labridæ) are numerous in species, comprising kinds much used as food. The commoner species on the east coast of the United States are the cunner and the tautog. The annual commercial catch of the latter amounts to about 1,500,000 pounds, with a value of $60,000.
Various species of pickerel (Luciidæ) are of some importance in the Northern United States and Europe. The most familiar one is the common pike or pickerel, abundant in northern regions. The Canadian maskinonge (q.v.) reaches a weight of 100 pounds or more.
The large and small-mouthed black bass and other sunfishes. such as the rock-bass, crappie, etc., are taken in considerable quantities for the markets in the United States, and the first named has been introduced into other countries where they are now marketed. The market value of the black bass to the fishermen in the United States is about $130,000, representing 2,000,000 pounds of fish. The annual catch of crappie is less than half this amount, or 850,000 pounds.
The mullets are commonly found in the markets of both North and South America.
Bibliography. Goode, Fishery Industries of the United States (Washington, 1884}; U. S. Fish Commission Annual Reports (Washington, 1871 et seq. and U. S. Fish Commission Bulletins (Washington, 1882 et seq.); Inspectors of Fisheries for England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, Annual Reports (London, 1897 et seq.); Minister of Fisheries of Canada, Report (Ottawa, 1868 et seq.); Statistiques des pêches maritimes (Paris, 1881 et seq.) treats of the fisheries of France; Stevenson, “Preservation of Fishery Products for Food,” in the United States Fish Commission's Bulletin for 1898 (Washington, 1899), contains a thorough account of the methods of preserving aquatic products in the United States and also of other countries, their commercial value, etc.; Simmonds, Harvest of the Sea (London, 1865); id., Commercial Products of the Sea (London, 1883); id., The Sea Fisheries of Great Britain (London, 1883).
FISHER'S ISLAND. An island off the harbor of New London, Conn., at the east entrance of Long island Sound (Map: Connecticut, H 4). It belongs to Southold Township, Suffolk County, L. I., and is about seven miles long, and one mile or less wide, with an area of about 4000 acres. The surface is undulating, the soil fertile and well adapted for agriculture. A large portion is occupied as a military reservation, and here is situated Fort Wright, which forms one of the defenses of the eastern end of Long Island Sound.
FISH-FLY. One of a group of large neuropterous insects that pass their early stages in the water and are united into the family Sialidæ, of which the alder-flies, dobson, and similar forms are also members. The name is more particularly given to the genus Chauliodes, which are distinguished from Corydalis by the comb-like or feathery feelers, and reach a great size. The fish-flies lay their eggs upon vegetation overhanging streams, whence the larvæ, as soon as hatched, drop into the water, and go about preying upon aquatic animals. “When ready to transform to pupæ,” quoting Howard, “they crawl out upon the bank and are then found in cavities under stones or even under the bark of trees.” See Corydalis.
FISH-HAWK. The popular name in North America of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus), of which it is considered a geographical race distinguished as variety Carolinensis. See Osprey, and Plate of Eagles and Hawks.
FISHING. Primeval man hooked and caught fish by the aid of numerous devices, the most important of which were gorges, made of bronze or stone, the latter consisting of pieces of shaped stone about an inch in length with a groove in the middle for the line. One of these gorges, a relic of the Stone Age, has been discovered in France and is about eight thousand years old. The bait completely covered the gorge, which, when swallowed by the fish, turned across the fish's gullet and held it secure. After stone, bronze was used, and then bone. The early Californian Indians used shell hooks, while the Piute Indians used the spine of a cactus.
Fishing-Tackle may be defined as consisting of rod, line, hook, reel, nets, etc. Rods are made of elastic wood, and sometimes of steel. Split bamboo is especially adapted for fly-fishing,
