THE MACKEREL PURSE-SEINE FISHERY. 259 



be dressed on shares, and at oilier times they are given away without expectation of return.* An 

 ordinary crew can dress and salt at one time about 100 barrels of small mackerel or 200 barrels of 

 large oncs.t 



Very large quantities of fish can be taken care of in a short time. Vessels have been known 

 to leave New York on one day and return the, next day with 200 to 300 barrels of fresh mackerel, 

 while some Gloucester vessels in the course of a week have caught and salted 500 or GOO barrels, 

 landing two or three cargoes during that time. 



It sometimes happens that, when a large school of mackerel has been taken in a seine, 

 the fish press down so hard on the bottom of the net that the fishermen find it difficult, if not 

 impossible, to gather in on the twine sufficiently to "dry the fish up" enough to bring them to the 

 surface. It has been found, however, that by throwing coal ashes into the water alongside of the 

 seine the Ssh are caused to rise to the surface, being frightened by the whitish appearance which 

 the ashes give to the sea. When the mackerel rise the twine can be readily drawn in. Tbe same 

 result is secured in another way by the menhaden fishermen when they Lave a large school of men- 

 haden in their seine alongside of the steamer. If the fish hang heavy on the twine, one or two 

 quick turns are given with the propeller and the frightened menhaden rise quickly to the surface. 

 This method is called "whirling 'em up." 



METHODS OF SEINING BY NIGHT. The practice of fishing for mackerel purse-seining in the 

 night-time which has recently come into quite general use, was first, attempted, so far as we can 

 learn, prior to 1874. Captain Merchant says that night seining for pogies was in practice as early 

 as 1SG4, but that up to 1874 no mackerel of any amount had been taken iu tbis way. In 1S74, and 

 up to 1877, a large quantity was taken. Since the latter date night seining has been the general 

 custom in the latter part of the summer an-1 fall. The honor of introducing this method of fishing 

 is assigned to a number of the more enterprising captains of the mackerel schooners, and, in con- 

 sequence, it is difficult to say here who should receive the credit for the innovation. As is well 

 known to all who are familiar with the sea, the water, on dark nights, frequently exhibits a remark- 

 ably brilliant phosphorescent display. At such times objects moving in the sea can be distinctly 

 traced by the illumination which they leave behind, and schools of fish rising near the surface can 

 be readily seen. Indeed, on some occasions so remarkable is the phosphorescence thrown out from 

 a large school of fish that it frequently seems to light up the surrounding darkness. From this 

 reason, and the fact that the fishermen, by long experience and close observation, can accurately 



"The schooner Oliver Cromwell, while on a mackerel cruise recently, had a curious incident befall her. Her 

 seine being out, a school of mackerel suddenly turneil, and, making for the seine, took it down. A vessel iu the 

 neighborhood immediately answered a call for assistance, and swept her seine under that of the Oliver Cromwell. 

 Twenty- three hundred dollars' worth of mackerel were secured, the two vessels dividing the catch, the fish selling on. 

 an average at nine cents each. The bunt of the seine belonging to the Oliver Cromwell was badly reut by the sudden 

 rush of the, fish or more would have been secured. This is the second time the seine of the Oliver Cromwell has 

 experienced .similar treatment, losing all the fish at the first on account of the seine giving way and there being no 

 help near. (New Bedford Mercury, 1875 (?).) 



Captain Merchant writes us that " in ' giving the seine away to another seiner,' we never expect to get any re- 

 turn of fish, as it is supposed the receivers will do the same by us as we have done by them whenever they may have 

 I In 1 chance. We are therefore satisfied if proper care is taken of the seine. We expect those vessels to return a part 

 of the mackerel who are hook and line li.shing and have no seine to catch them with." 



t A much larger quantity could be taken care of were it not for the fact that mackerel, after being kept a certain 

 length of time, grow "soft," and rapidly become unlit for food. This change takes place much sooner when the weather 

 is warm than at other times. The fishermen, however, are generally able to tell pretty accurately how many fish can 

 be dressed and salted before they spoil. When good catches are made for several days iu succession the fishermen get 

 no sleep, being constantly employed night and day in taking and curing the fish. The above remarks apply incur 

 particularly to the methods iu use prior to the general adoption of the mackerel pocket. At present all mackerel 

 vessels are supplied with a " pocket," and since the fish can be kept alive in this for a considerable length of time, it 

 follows, of course, that a part of the catch is seldom given, away. 



