BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 211 



Hake, haddock, and other ground fish have been fairly abundant on 

 the eastern fishing grounds, and an average catch is reported. 



Bluefish have been less plentiful than for a number of years. Only 

 occasionally has any amount been taken, and much of the time vessels 

 have returned empty. 



Swordfish have been numerous, the catch being mostly made in the 

 vicinity of Block Island. The price has been as low as 3 cents a pound. 



Mackerel, in large bodies, seem to have abandoned their usual resorts 

 this year. All the season, since their disappearance south of Long- 

 Island, the fishermen have sought them all along the usual fishing 

 grounds off the New England coast as far as the Bay of Fundy, on 

 George's and Brown's Banks, and in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. After 

 weeks of constant search vessels have been obliged to return to home 

 ports with very few fish, if any. They would at once refit and start 

 again. During the first of the month 125 sail were cruising off the 

 New England coast — 50 sail in the vicinity of Block Island and 75 sail 

 in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Small mackerel were found quite abun- 

 dant, and occasionally small schools of large fish were taken off the 

 eastern coast and about Block Island. In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence 

 the search was equally unsuccessful up to the middle of the month, 

 when the fish appeared in considerable abundance on Bradelle and 

 Orphan Banks, to the north of Prince Edward Island. The fish were 

 mostly taken from 10 to 20 miles from shore, and were of good size and 

 fair quality. 



No improvement taking place off the United States shores, the fleet 

 slowly and reluctantly went from the eastern shore to North Baj^, at 

 the close of the mouth 150 sail of the New England fleet of seiners 

 being in those waters. A few sail were hauled up temporarily, and 100 

 vessels remained scattered all over the fishing grounds off the New 

 England coast. The oldest fishermen report that never have they seen 

 a season that would compare with this for the scarcity of mackerel. 



The native fishermen of the Provinces have been equally unfortunate. 

 The few vessels they had engaged in seining could not find mackerel 

 schooling, while the boat fishermen using hand-lines complained that 

 mackerel when found would not take the hook, and consequently their 

 catch was also insignificant. 



Bait has been plentiful all the month, the weirs of Cape Cod at nearly 

 all times having an abundance of squid and small mackerel. Along 

 the coast of Maine herring have been in great abundance; at several 

 points for days the weirs and traps would be full and closed, waiting 

 for buyers. Squid have been very abundant along the New England 

 coast; also at times on the leading fishing banks. 



Prices of all kinds of salt-water fish have ruled very low, in many 

 cases being below the cost of production, and lower than for years, if 

 ever before. The season thus far has certainly been a most discour- 

 aging one for all engaged, yet fishing is persistently and hopefully fol- 

 lowed, in hopes of a better future. 



