STATISTICS OF THE MACKEKEL FISHERY. 305 



packed in Massachusetts, while in 1814 only 1,349 barrels were put up. In 1831 the quantity was 

 increased to 383,658, this being the largest amouutever inspected in the State. A period of scarc- 

 ity followed, and between 1839 and 1845 the inspection returns show an average of only 67,674 

 barrels annually. About 1860 the fish were again abundant, and for eight years the quantity 

 packed averaged 246,877 barrels. This period of plenty was in turn followed by one of scarcity, 

 which culminated in 1877, at which time only 105,017 barrels were inspected, and the fishery was 

 practically a failure, resulting in great loss both to fishermen and capitalists. Fortunately this 

 condition of affairs is at an end, and the fishery is again in a prosperous condition, the catch of 

 the New England fishermen at present, if we include the fish sold fresh, being larger than at any 

 time since the origin of the fishery. 



In 1880 the New England mackerel fishermen met with marked success, though those of the 

 British Provinces were not so fortunate. By the middle of March a number of the Maine and 

 Massachusetts vessels sailed for the South to engage in the spring fishery, and by the 20th of the 

 following month the last of the fleet, which consisted of sixty-four sail, averaging 65.66 tons each, 

 were uuder way. The season opened with a haul of 25,000 mackerel taken off the Virginia capes 

 on the 2d of April. These were carried to New York, where they met with a ready sale at good 

 figures. From that time mackerel were taken frequently, the fleet working northward with the 

 fish as the season advanced, reaching Long Island about the last of April, and Cape Cod a few 

 weeks later. The season was not a very satisfactory one for the Southern fleet, as the catch was 

 small, and the fish were of poor quality, a majority of the vessels engaged making comparatively 

 light stocl s while many of them scarcely paid expenses. As the summer approached, the fishing 

 improved g eatly, the fish increasing both in number and quality, and the Southern fleet was 

 joined by a large number of vessels from the various fishing ports. Later, as the vessels arrived 

 from their trips to the codfish banks, many were fitted out to engage in the mackerel fishery, and 

 by the 1st of August the fishing was at its height, the fleet numbering four hundred and sixty- 

 eight sail, averaging a trifle over 50 tons apiece. Of this number three hundred and forty-three 

 were provided with purse-seines for engaging in the off-shore fisheries, while one hundred and 

 twenty-five fished with hook or net chiefly on the iu-shore grounds. The value of this fleet, includ- 

 ing the fishing gear and outfits, reached $2,122,360, and five thousand and forty-three men were 

 employed. A little later in the season about twenty-five of the vessels proceeded to the Gulf of 

 Saint Lawrence in the hope of meeting with better success ; but few fish were seen, and the ven- 

 ture resulted disastrously to a large majority of them, many failing to pay expenses, while a few 

 returned without having caught a fish. These vessels on their return at once joined the home 

 fleet, and, meeting with good success, most of them were enabled to make good the loss which they 

 had previously sustained. 



About the 1st of July an unprecedentedly large body of ujackerel entered the Gulf of Maine, 

 many of them visiting the shore-waters, entering the various harbors and coves, where they 

 remained for some weeks. During their stay in these in-shore waters thousands of men and boys 

 engaged in their capture from small boats, and in many localities a majority of the male popula- 

 tion participated in the fishery to a greater or less extent. The pound-nets along the southern 

 coast of New England were peculiarly successful, while large quantities were taken in the traps 

 and weirs between Cape Cod and Peuobscot Bay. Probably not less than 10,000 people along 

 various portions of the coast of Maine were engaged in mackerel hooking during some portion of 

 the season, though many of them fished chiefly for pleasure, while others caught only limited 

 quantities for home supply. About 3,500 followed the business regularly for some time, many of 

 them realizing considerable profit from the work. In Massachusetts a similar condition of affairs 

 SEC v 20 



