62 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 



"The aggregate number of barrels packed at Portland will reach 

 nearly 125,000, one firm having packed 25,000 barrels, and two others 

 about 20,000 each. The fleet of Portland mackerel vessels is growing 

 rapidly, and now ranks next in size to that of Gloucester." 



Gloucester, Mass., December 2, 1884. 



Destructiveness of squid. — On the Nova Scotia shore squid have 

 destroy ed all the mackerel and herring that were caught in the nets. 

 My son, George H. Martin, was on the Nova Scotia shore four weeks, 

 and tells me that during that time he never saw a mackerel that had 

 been taken out of a net which was fit for market. When squid was 

 plenty on the New England coast, the fishermen had their nets set for 

 herring. That squid would destroy three out of ten barrels taken, I am 

 informed by men who were in the business. 



I have been informed that by holding in the water a scrub broom that 

 had been dipped in the gurry pen three and four squid could be taken 

 at a time; and, moreover, that if a strad.* such as is used on a cable 

 sat anchor, be lowered in the water after being placed in the gurry pen 

 it is possible to take from three to eight squid at a time. Squid are very 

 plenty on all the outer grounds, but since the last easterly gale, they 

 have moved offshore. Fishermen say that they have never seen squid so 

 plenty as on George's Bank, where they have been of much benefit to 

 the vessels which have arrived there during the last fifteen days. The 

 vessels which carried herring for bait did not need them, and so threw 

 them away. 



Gloucester, Mass., December 7, 1884. 



Pollock have left the inshore grounds. I think cod gill-nets are suit- 

 able to catch puffers. There have been eight caught in the nets since 

 the 15th of October. In summer they are very plenty in Boston Bay, 

 close to the shores. 



The fishing season is over, and all but seven of the George's fleet 

 have hauled up. They will, however, start out again in January. 

 Twenty-one vessels have sailed for Newfoundland, with seven more to 

 follow, and two have sailed for Grand Manau. These vessels have gone 

 for frozen herring. Nine vessels will also go from Nova Scotia to New- 

 foundland for frozen herring. 



Vessels fishing for halibut have found them very scarce. Two ves- 

 sels arrived yesterday, each with fares of 20,000 pounds. The vessels 

 have been gone from home six weeks. 



Gloucester, Mass., December 14, 1884. 



* A strad is made of three strands of rope braided together, and tapering to a point 

 at each end. It may vary in length from 1 to 2£ fathoms, but is generally 9 to 10 feet 

 long. The strands are taken from manilla rope of 2-J, 2% and 3 iuches in circumfer- 

 ence. Strads are wound around a cable to prevent it from charing in the hawse-pipe 

 aud about the head-stays. — J. W. Collins. 



