J. PISCICULTURE AND THE FISHERIES. 43 V 



been seen only twice during the preceding three months. The 

 principal business carried on at the islands is the capture of 

 cod-fish, numerous vessels being there diligently engaged in 

 this work. The fish are taken in small boats by means of 

 lines armed with eleven and twelve inch hooks. The best 

 bait consists of halibut and cuttle-fish. Each fisherman takes 

 from three to four hundred fish in a day. As soon as the 

 catch is brought on board the vessel the fish are salted and 

 packed away, and not again touched until the cargo reaches 

 its destination. Much of the work is done by Aleuts, who are 

 admirable fishermen, although somewhat difficult to train in 

 methods different from those to which they have been accus- 

 tomed. One of the vessels at the islands expected to leave 

 a portion of her crew at a point on Falmouth Harbor for the 

 purpose of hunting during the winter. Alaska Herald, Au- 

 gust 24,1872. 



MACKEKEL CATCH OF 1872. 



According to the late papers, the catch of mackerel for 1872 

 appears to have been at least one third less than that of the 

 preceding season. The principal reason for this is supposed 

 to be the disinclination of the American fishermen to visit 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where the best summer fisheries are 

 to be had, in view of the failure of the Dominion authorities 

 to ratify the late fishery treaty, and the fear on the part of 

 the fishermen of arbitrary exactions and interference by the 

 coast-guards. 



A material change has taken place, also, in the mode of 

 capture, the use of the hand-line having been to a very consid- 

 erable extent superseded by the seine. This is a much more 

 efficient manner of taking them, but is said to be one involv- 

 ing great waste ; as, wherever a very large number are taken, 

 a considerable percentage die and become worthless before 

 they can be properly cared for. 



AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY IX 1871. 



According to the New Bedford Standard, as quoted in the 

 American Chemist, the whale fishery for 1871 was not by any 

 means profitable. The prices for oil were reduced in conse- 

 quence of the competition of the cotton-seed oil, lard-oil, pe- 

 troleum, etc., while the expenses of constructing and fitting 



