16G BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



"A Large Pollock Fleet, including many Maine vessels, and 

 one from Nova Scotia, have been busily employed off this port for the 

 past six weeks, meeting with unprecedented success. The amount of 

 pollock landed at this port this season has been 2,094,100 pounds 

 (against 481,000 pounds to this date last year), and nearly, if not quite, 

 as large an amount has been taken to the eastward by the fleet from 

 that section." 



Gloucester, Mass., November, 17, 1882. 



The fishing business has been prosperous in all its branches this sea- 

 son at Gloucester. Some of the largest stocks that were ever made were 

 made this year. There have been 50 new vessels added to the fleet 

 since the 1st of March ; the vessels that have been built will average 

 85 tons, and cost, when ready for sea, $9,000 apiece. The firms are 

 selling off their old vessels and having new ones built. There is nothing 

 doing on the rocks, for the fishermen cannot get bait to fish with hand 

 lines. There are four boats fishing with cod gill-nets, and they are 

 doing well. The Sperling is all gone. Haddock catchers have to go to 

 < '.rand Manan after bait. There will 12 sail go to Newfoundland after 

 frozen herring, and 20 sail to Grand Manan after frozen herring. The 

 pollock fishing has been very successful this fall, but it is now ended. 

 As near as I can find out, there have been 4,000,000 pounds of pollock 

 caught, weighing the fish as they came out of the water. I add a news- 

 paper article on — 



"The Mackerel Fishery. — The mackerel fishery for the present 

 season has closed, and as a whole it has proved one of the best, and 

 perhaps the very best, season for this branch of the fisheries that Glou- 

 cester has ever known. Although a few of the vessels have not made 

 satisfactory stocks, yet the majority have more than fulfilled the expec- 

 tations of those interested in them, and several of the fleet have stocked 

 amounts which have never before been reached in the history of the 

 mackerel fishing business. To do this required hard and constant work 

 on the part of the fishermen, and many of them have shown an energy 

 and perseverance worthy of the highest commendation. The present 

 manner of fishing with seines makes the possibilities of large stocks 

 more dependent on the ability and energy of the captains than the old 

 method of hand-line fishing. It requires experienced and vigilant men 

 on the lookout both by day and by night, watching for schools, and 

 upon this constant watchfulness, in a great measure, their success de- 

 pends. The use, of the recently patented pocket is a great help in sav- 

 ing the lisli when big hauls are made, keeping them in good condition 

 until they can be properly taken care of by the crew, and thus helping 

 to increase the catch of the vessel. Capt. Solomon Jacobs, schooner 

 Edward F. Webster, claims to be 'high line,' he having made a net 

 stock of over $34,000 this season. 



"Captain Jacobs has stocked upwards of $75,000 during the past 



