410 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMlSSlOK. 



ujake a trial of gill-nets for cod fisbiug in Ipswich Bay. Before get- 

 tiug an outfit for the vessel Le would like to use tbe three cod gill- 

 nets we have in stock at Gloucester. Perhaps the use of such nets may 

 result in profit to the fishermen, especially at times when bait is scarce. 

 A small school of cod has appeared on the outer grounds off Thatcher's 

 Island. Hake are unusually plentiful and pollock are abundant. It is 

 the opinion among the fishermen that the shore fisheries will succeed 

 this winter. 



Menhaden. — I heard to-day that on Friday last menhaden were 

 numerous off I*lymouth, where the steamer George Humphrey took GOO 

 barrels. I heard also that during the previous wi ek schooner Phantom 

 took 75 barrels; Henry Friend, 45 barrels; Ussipee, 100 barrels. These 

 are the only hauls of menhaden that I have heard of north of Cape Cod, 

 although menhaden may have been taken by gill-nets in Casco Bay 

 during the summer. — November 1, 1880. 



199 NOTES ON THE F£8IIERIES OF OliOUCESTER, MASS. 



By S. J. MARTI]V. 



[From letters to Prof. S. F. Baird.] 



Four weeks ago the prospect for a large catch of fish on the Grand 

 Banks was doubtful, as the whole fleet was seeking bait for four weeks. 

 But on June 25 capelin struck the coast of Newfoundland in great abun- 

 dance and all the vessels got bait. On reaching the Banks codfish were 

 found to be plentiful. One vessel caught 30,000 pounds for three days 

 consecutively. The prospect for a large catch is good, as squid came on 

 the Banks when the vessels left for home. 



During the past week there have been 33 arrivals from George's Banks, 

 with good fares, averaging 25,000 jiounds of codfish to a vessel. The 

 vessels were absent from home from ten to fourteen days. Last week 

 there were also 4 arrivals from Grand Banks, averaging 125,000 pounds 

 of codfish to a vessel ; 11 arrivals from the Banks, with small fares of 

 23,000 pounds of fresh halibut to a vessel ; 6 arrivals with salt mack- 

 erel, 4 fares of small and 2 of large, caught at Block Island. The large 

 mackerel caught at Block Island sold for $16.50 per barrel. Small 

 mackerel sold yesterday for $5 per barrel. 



In a letter dated Surrey, Prince Edward Island, June 30, 1884, Capt. 

 Charles Martin sa>s : " We have seen no mackerel yet, though we were 

 over to the west shore on June 27, and down the island June 28. Again 

 we saw none yesterday, but to-day a few were to be seen with a school 

 of herring off Surrey. There are about a dozen sail, some of which have 

 been to Chaleurs Bay, but found no mackerel. We left forty sail at 

 North Cape." Again, in a letter dated Surrey, Prince Edward Island, 

 July G, 1884, Capt. Charles Martin says : " There are 45 sail here to-day. 



