BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



95 



C. Wharijf took 36,000 pounds of codfish with gill-nets, while fishing only 

 three days in Ipswich Bay ; and sold the same at $4 per 100 pounds, 

 netting over $1,400. The price just mentioned was exceptionally high; 

 while during the month prices for all kinds of fish have ruled lower than 

 for years, the exceptional cases being on fresh fish, with which the 

 market would be jiooily supplied during stormy weather. 



The codfish found in Ipswich Bay seem to have followed in, or been 

 followed by, a large body of shrimp, their stomachs being full of them. 

 The shrimp are from two to four inches long, of a bright red color, and 

 full of spawn. The codfish taken in Ipswich Bay average seventeen 

 pounds each, about half of them being female fish. 



The mackerel vessels have been getting ready for their season's work, 

 which is close at hand. The catch of mackerel before June is generally 

 regarded as unprofitable and injurious to the business. It has been 

 expected and largely desired by producers and dealers that Congress 

 would pass a " close season "law, prohibiting the catch or importa- 

 tion of mackerel until June. The mackerel vessels began to leave for 

 the southern fishing grounds on March 11. Ko mackerel had been seen 

 up to the close of the month. IsTot so many sail as usual will be engaged 

 in this branch of the fisheries early in the season, yet by the middle of 

 April one hundred sail will be on the fishing grounds. As long as any 

 go early, many who are opposed to fishing for mackerel so soon in the 

 season will go with them. 



Although much of the time during the month the weather was stormy 

 and vessels were obliged to remain idle, fish have been abundant and 

 good average fares brought in. TlwB receipts at Gloucester of cod and 

 halibut, the two leading varieties, as compared with the corresponding 

 month last year, show an increase, as follows: 



Month. 



March, 1885. 

 March, 1886. 



Number of 

 fares. 



179 

 190 



Increase, 1886 . 



11 



Cod. 



Pounds. 

 4, 266, 000 

 4, 568, 334 



302, 334 



Halibut. 



Pomids. 

 693, 500 

 1, 106, 100 



412, 60C 



Beceipts of fish at Gloucester, Mass., in March, 1886. 



Additional, 10,000 boxes of smoked herring frora Grand Manan. 



