THE MACKEREL FISHERY 271 



was taken to prevent the capture of the fish in the waters 

 of the Atlantic, since nobody would be encouraged to catch 

 fish for which no markets were provided. The question 

 of the right to legislate over deep-sea fisheries was, in this 

 way, carefully and adroitly avoided. The first and third 

 sections of the act are as follows: 



''That, for the period of five years from and after the passage 

 of this act no mackerel, other than what is known as Spanish 

 mackerel, caught between the first day of March and the first 

 day of June, inclusive, of each year, shall be imported into the 

 United States or landed upon its shores. . . .. 



"That the penalty for the violation or attempted violation of 

 this act shall be forfeiture of license on the part of the vessel 

 engaged in said violation, if a vessel of this country, and the 

 forfeiture to the United States, according to law, of the mackerel 

 imported or landed, or sought to be imported or landed." 



The resumption of the mackerel fishery in southern 

 waters in 1893 was watched with interest. The mackerel 

 fleet numbered 60 vessels, 43 of them being from Glouces- 

 ter, 11 from Portland, and the others from Boston, Rock- 

 port and Dennisport. The season was unfavorable for 

 fishing, there being an unusual amount of stormy weather 

 which interfered with seining. Only 16 of the fleet landed 

 fares of fresh fish. The total quantity of fresh mackerel 

 landed was 1,158 barrels, valued at $21,000. Had this sum 

 been divided among the crews of all the fleet each man 

 would have shared about ten dollars. Since 1893 the 

 southern spring mackerel fishery has been small. In 1894 

 only 700 barrels of mackerel were taken ; in 1897 and in 

 1900 the number went above 11,000 barrels, but the average 

 for the eight years following the resumption of spring 

 fishing was about 4,000 barrels a year. In that time the 

 seining fleet numbered 48 schooners. The southern catch 

 of fresh mackerel for the years 1907 and 1908 was 27,000 

 and 20,000 barrels respectively. 



