BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FKH COMMISSION. 131 



have been waiting four days for the glass iloats. A great winter's work, 

 is anticipated. 

 Gloucester, Mass., November 25, 1883. 



The amount of fish landed during the month of November was as fol- 

 lows: Fish caught in cod gill-nets, 1,330,000 pounds codfish, 174,000 

 pounds pollock. Fish caught in cod gill-nets landed at Eockport and 

 Portsmouth during the month of November, 183,000 pounds. Cod nets, 

 take the cake. 



Gloucester, Mass., December 3, 1883. 



Last week the cod gill-nets landed at Gloucester 590,000 pounds of 

 fish. There was also lauded at Portsmouth and Eockport 84,000 pounds 

 which had been caught in Ipswich Bay by 5 boats. The fish landed in 

 Gloucester were caught in Boston Bay by 33 boats. The gill-nets catch 

 not only cod but jjollock, pufl'ers, monkfish, and dogfish. The three 

 puffers caught last week all contained young. The codfish average 25 

 pounds ai)iece and are mostly sold to split at If cents a pound. The 

 cod gill-nets cost $12 apiece last winter, and this winter $14.25 apiece. 

 We much need something to keep the nets from rotting. Some boats 

 having used their nets about five weeks now have to get new ones; the 

 nets are 50 fathoms only. If the nets rot as fast all the winter as they 

 do now, each man will require three nets before April 1. These will 

 cost $43 without the floats. The floats cost 22 cents apiece, which is 

 too much. The catch of fish varies very much. In three cases boats 

 caught 2,000 pounds of fish in one night, and on the next night caught 

 8,000 pounds in the same place. Most of the cod are full of ripe spawn. 



Gloucester, Mass., December 9, 1883. 



During the past week there have been lauded at Gloucester 430,000 

 pounds of fish, at Eockport and Portsmouth 81,000 pounds, and at 

 Swampscot 48,000 pounds. These fish were all taken with the cod gill- 

 nets. On one day it was impossible to haul their nets. All the nets 

 have been in use five weeks, and are so rotten that new ones have been 

 ordered. Forty-eight vessels are using nets this week. There are five 

 boats from Swampscot using nets, having failed to do anything with 

 hand lines. The business of the glass-blowers and the net-makers is; 

 good. 



Gloucester, Mass., December 16, 1883. 



During the past week there have been landed at Gloucester 186,00© 

 pounds of codfish, at Eockport 48,000 pounds, and at Swampscot 34,000 

 pounds, all taken in the cod gill-nets. During three nights of the week 

 the men were unable to haul their nets. On Thursday morning wheis 

 they hauled their nets some boats found they had taken 4,000 pounds 

 of fish. On Friday morning not one fish was caught, although the nets 

 were set in the same place. Some of the boats then shifted their nets. 



