330 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



landed, in sea-packed barrels, at all New England home ports up to 

 October 28 : 



1886 74,387 



1885 324,704 



1884 411,08 



1883 189,271 



In common with most of the leading food-fishes, cod excepted, pollock 

 have been scarce, hand-lines and gill-nets both taking only a small 

 amount. The total quantity landed at Gloucester during the month 

 was 398,250 pounds, against 3,142,790 pounds for the corresponding 

 month last year. 



The first set of gill-nets this season was made 7 miles out from 

 Gloucester, on October 7. Being hauled the next day the catch found 

 was twenty-five pollock, averaging 21 pounds each, two-thirds female 

 fish, mostly full of spawn. They sold for $1.25 per 100 pounds. As the 

 catch increased the price fell to 50 cents per 100 pounds. 



Bait has continued abundant and more than enough for all demands. 

 Weirs along the eastern coast, from New Castle, N. H., to Southwest 

 Harbor, Maine, have had plenty of herring, while weirs at Cape Cod 

 had a smaller amount of herring and mackerel. On the Western Bank, 

 where most of the codfish were caught, squid were very plentiful, fur- 

 nishing the best of bait free of expense. 



Shore herring remained along the Massachusetts coast, in the vicinity 

 of Cape Ann, most of the month, but in no large body, excepting on 

 October 3 and 4, when they were off'Iiockport, Mass., in immense num- 

 bers, and the fishermen had more than they could handle, and many 

 nets were sunk by the weight of the fish. Anticipating a large catch, 

 prices fell to 75 cents to $1 a barrel. The herring soon struck off, a 

 smaller body of fish appearing off the Eastern Point and along the Mas- 

 sachusetts shore. Prices soon advanced to $1.50 and $1.75 a barrel. 

 The total catch of large shore herring taken off the Massachusetts 

 coast has not been one-half that of 1885. 



The halibut fleet from Iceland have all arrived, bringing fair but not 

 full cargoes. Two sailed, early in the season, for Greenland on halibut 

 trips, one returned with partial cargo, and one (mentioned below) is 

 probably lost. 



A sad record of loss of life and property closes the report for the 

 month. Four vessels have sailed from Gloucester never to return, when 

 and how three of them were lost will probably never be known. During 

 the past month the following have been given up : 



On Octobers the sclioouer Garibaldi, 49.89 tons, on a codfish trip, was 

 burned while at anchor in Schooner Passage near Yarmouth, Xova Sco- 

 tia, the crew being all saved. 



Schooner John F. Wouson, 55.13 tons, sailed on August 4 for codfish 

 on George's Bank ; siuc<i that time she has not been seen, and the 

 vessel and crew of 10 men are given up. 



Schooner Seth Stockbridge, 85.44 tons, sailed in June on a halibut 



