274 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



abundance and adverse legislation that prohibited the use 

 of purse-seines made the season unprofitable. The vessel 

 returned to the United States in 1891. Another innova- 

 tion in the mackerel industry was made in 1899. Capt. 

 Solomon Jacobs of the schooner Ethel B. Jacobs sailed in 

 July for the coast of Ireland, making the passage across 

 the Atlantic in 14 days. The schooner secured 353 barrels 

 of mackerel which were shipped home. In October the 

 vessel went ashore on Abbey Island and was a total loss. 

 It is doubtful if further attempts will be made to extend 

 the New England mackerel fishery into foreign waters. 



An important development of the industry was the in- 

 troduction of gasoline engines as motor power in 1900, 

 when the Helen Miller Gould was fitted out as an auxiliary 

 schooner. Three other auxiliary schooners were fitted out 

 in the following year and two in 1902. At the present 

 time there are about a score of schooners equipped with 

 auxiliary power. The extra power is of especial value in 

 increasing the speed of the schooner to and from the fish- 

 ing grounds and in assuring a means of propulsion on the 

 fishing grounds during days of calm weather. 



The improvement in motor power among mackerel ves- 

 sels is along the line of greater efficiency and better means 

 of living aboard the Gloucester schooner of to-day. The 

 successful mackerel schooner must be equipped with the 

 very best that dealers can furnish. Sails, cordage, seines 

 and boats need to be new and strong to stand the test of 

 many severe strains of work and weather. Probably the 

 world furnishes no fleet of vessels comparable to the New 

 England mackerel fleet in staunchness, equipment, sailing 

 qualities and general appearance. On the best schooners 

 the captain has his own stateroom, finished in oak and 

 furnished with a berth, a leather-covered couch, a clothes 

 closet, medicine-case, chest and locker. The crew were 

 never before provided for so bountifully. Each man has 



