106 BULLETIN OF THP: UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 

 aO.-IMiW JEIVCL,AIV1> FIHUGRAK.S I> A1»KBI., 1S!?.G. 



By \V. A. WILCOX. 



The customary activity and enthusiasm in the tishing iudustry at 

 this season has not been observable during the past month. The fear of 

 a treaty with 'England, or some arrangement by which foreign-caught 

 fish would be admitted free of duty, has been a cloud over the business 

 all the spring. This has in a measure disappeared, only to be followed 

 b}' others — by disasters, an unusually small demand, and the lowest 

 prices for years — all of which had a depressing effect, and vessels have 

 been fitted out for the tishing grounds but slowly. 



Contrary to the expectations of many, since July, 1885, at which time 

 the small duty was imposed upon j)ickled and dry fish of foreign im- 

 I)ortation, prices have been much lower and the demand less than in 

 past years, when imported fish was free of duty. This may largely be 

 accounted for by the great decline in all other i)ro visions, fish appar- 

 ently suffering the most. 



The aggregate receipts for the month vary but little from those of 

 the corresponding month of last year; more vessels have been engaged 

 in the halibut fishery and less in the cod fishery. The receipts of the 

 former accordingly show an increase ; the latter, a decrease. 



George's Bank has been the fishing ground for a large fleet of nearly 

 200 sail, three-fourths of which were from Gloucester. Cod and had- 

 dock were abundant, but vessels averaged small fares of codfish from 

 having poor bait. The haddock catch being marketed at Boston fresh, 

 the receipts at Gloucester show only the small amount of haddock that 

 arrived from an occasional overstocked fresh market. Halibut have 

 at times been plentiful, and again few were taken on these grounds. 



Ipswich Bay, from October until May, is a favorite resort for codfish, 

 and is one of the most prolific fishing grounds on the coast. During 

 the past six months the fish have been abundant most of the time, more 

 so than for years. The fleet fishing in this bay during January, Feb- 

 ruary, and March numbered 42 sail of uetters and 20 of trawlers; during 

 Ai)ril 40 vessels used trawls and 20 used nets. As this change was 

 caused chiefly by the nets having been worn out so near the end of the 

 season, they were not replaced. 



In the absence of full returns we notice a few of the Ipswich Bay fleet: 

 Scliooner ISTorthern Eagle, from October 17 to April 28, with 12 men and 

 30 nets, caught 327,000 pounds of cod and 80,000 pounds of pollock; 

 schooner Sarah C. Wharfl', December 15 to April 25, with 8 to 10 men, 

 4 or 5 dories, and 40 to 48 nets, caught 307,000 pounds of cod; schooner 

 nector, October 10 to April 30, with 10 men and 24 nets, caught 227,000 

 pounds of cod and 11 1,000 i)0un(ls of pollock : schooner Abby A. Snow, 

 October 10 to Ai)i-il 30, with 12 men and 30 nets, caught 330,000 pounds 

 of cod and 97,000 pounds of pollock; schooner Estellc S. Nuuam, with 



