BULLETIN OF THE UNITED MATES FISH COMMISSION. 245 



(W.-TIIE FISHERIES OF I'HNSA«'»I,A, FEA. 



By SILAS STEABWS. 



The fisheries at this point have not been ,-o successful and lucrative 

 as usual during the season that is just ending, mainly on account of the 

 boisterous weather that prevailed. 



In the red-snapper fishery it was expected at the beginning of the 

 season that there would be a great improvement in the catch and in 

 the regularity of supply, because of the introduction into the business 

 of larger vessels, better crews of fishermen, and some improved methods 

 of capture. But while the well-equipped vessels proved admirably 

 adapted to the work, the supply of fish was but little better than that 

 of former seasons. This circumstance is due to the fact that the red 

 snapper is becoming less abundant and is being taken at greater dis- 

 tances from the market, and that during the very windy weather fishing 

 or searching for the fishing grounds is impracticable. 



In addition to the old fleet of red-snapper catchers, there were three 

 well-fitted vessels, carrying crews of 10 ok 12 men each, that were made 

 up at Portland and Gloucester, and who were believed to be experts in 

 their profession. There was also employed the schooner Henrietta 

 Frances, of Boston, a 75-ton mackerel catcher, with a Portland crew of 

 18 men. One of these vessels, in charge, of Capt. D. E. Collins, of Glou- 

 cester, had an outfit of trawls, such as are used at Gloucester and Port- 

 land for haddock; but these trawls, after several thorough trials, were 

 laid aside for the old hand-line gear, as they did not prove to be so 

 effective. 



The experience of this winter, even with its bad weather, has not 

 enabled the fishermen to determine whether an outfit so expensive as 

 that of the Henrietta Frances will be profitable, owing to the fact that 

 there were but few times during the season when she went to sea 

 that the small vessels of 30 and 40 tons did not go, and even on the 

 fishing grounds the smaller vessels would be at work quite as long. 

 There is, however, an advantage in such a vessel, in her ability to make 

 longer and quicker passages, and in having plenty of room for the storage 

 of ice, which will receive greater consideration as the fishing grounds 

 are found farther from the home market. 



During this season the vessels of 35, 40, and 50 tons have been the 

 most profitable, especially those without "wells." The smaller il well " 

 smacks made small and infrequent catches through the winter, and the 

 market would have been bare much more than it was had the depend- 

 ence been wholly upon them. 



The following figures show the gross stock of several of the vessels 

 for the winter: Henrietta Frances, of 75 tons, $3,200; John Pew, of IL' 

 tons, $5,S11 ; H. S. Eowe, of 5G tons, $3,000; Sarah L. Harding, of 30 



