BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 241 



Vol. VI, ]Vo. 16. Tl'ashington, D. C. IVov. 3, 1886. 



77.— NEW EIVOI.AIVD Fli^IlERIES ITS AUOUST, 1886. 



By J¥, A. l¥Il.COX. 



Of all tlie leading varieties of food-fisli caught by the New England 

 fishing fleet, codfish appears to be the only kind that has been abun- 

 dant during the present season. On all the leading fishing banks 

 they have been found in great numbers, and receipts have been some- 

 what larger than for the corresponding month of last year. Vessels 

 from the Grand Banks have all brought in full cargoes. The schooner 

 Henry S. Woodrufl", of Lamoine, Me., a three-master, brought home 5,000 

 quintals, the largest single fare on record. Prices have remained so low 

 that even with full cargoes not much, if any, profit has remained for 

 the fishermen or owners of the vessels. 



Mackerel continue to show a large falling off in receipts as compared 

 with the corresponding month of former years. Off the New England 

 coast no body of mackerel has been found. If they have been there they 

 have remained below the surface, and only occasionally have small schools 

 been seen and caught. Many vessels have left the New England coast 

 for the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, meeting with much rough weather, and 

 a large part of the time finding mackerel scarce and the prospect 

 discouraging. The following extracts from reports of masters of fish- 

 ing vessels and persons on the fishing grounds in the Gulf of Saint 

 Lawrence during the month are reliable and of interest: 



Georgetown, Pkince Edward Island, August 3. — "Boat fish- 

 ermen have not done anything this season; mackerel are now plentiful, 

 but will not take the hook." 



TiGNisu, Princi: Edward Island, August 5. — "The mackerel 

 fleet remain to the northward ; a few local seiners close in shore doing 

 something most every day, but no large hauls. Schools are small j 

 size, fair ; not so plentiful off here as a week ago." 



MiRAMicHi, New Brunswick, August 8. — " One hundred sail of 

 seiners in this vicinity ; schools small, and catch'ouly moderate." 



SouRis, Prince Edward Island, August 10. — "No mackerel 

 schooling, and boats make onl^- small catches with hooks ; size good 

 and large." 



Magdalen Islands, August 10. — "Few mackerel caught about 

 here to date. A recent storm appears to have brought them up, and 

 the prospect improves." 



New London, Prince Edward Island, August 11. — "The fleet 

 are to the north ; no fivSh schooling off here; a light catch the past week." 

 Bull. U. S. F. C., 8G 16 



