BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH. COMMISSION. 281 



appear to be more scattered, and break up into small pods when they 

 reach the Bay of Fundy."* Perhaps the greatest quantities of mackerel 

 taken on the coast of Maine during June and July were caught in the 

 vicinity of Mount Desert Rock, at distances therefrom of 15 to 30 miles, 

 and usually in a southeast direction. Mr. Calder told me that the 

 Wellington, while on her second trip, took the greater portion of her 

 fare in the deep watert 45 miles south from Mount Desert. He also 

 states that at the end of July and the beginning- of August, a fleet of 

 50 to 85 sail was fishing in those waters. At the same time, good 

 catches were made from 15 to 25 miles from Matinicus and Monhegan 

 Islands."| 



Indeed, mackerel had never been more plentiful on the American coast 

 from the commencement of the spring fishing to the middle of August, 

 nor had vessels ever made larger captures, than during this period.§ In 

 August, however, a decided change took place in this fishery, the re- 

 ceipts of mackerel at the principal fishing ports falling off considerably. 



* By the Bay of Fundy, Captain Martin may be understood to mean the waters ex- 

 tending from Monhegan Island to Grand Manan. 



tThe term deep water, as used here, may be taken to mean a depth varying from 

 60 to 200 fathoms, but generally more than 80 fathoms. 

 " tThe following record of arrivals with full fares taken in this region is gathered 

 from the journal of Captain Martin : 



June 22. — Arrival of four mackerel schooners, one of which fished off Mount Desert. 



June 26. — Arrival of ten mackerel schooners. Most vessels report catching their 

 fish off the coast of Maine. 



Jane 27. — Arrival of four mackerel schooners from 20 miles southeast of Matinicus. 



June 29. — Arrival of four mackerel schooners, one of which caught its fish 30 miles 

 east of Mount Desert Eock. 



July 16. — Schooner S. A. Campbell arrived with 360 barrels, reported to have been 

 caught 10 miles from Grand Manan Island. 



August 2. — Five fares of mackerel arrived on previous day, one of which was caught 

 40 miles southeast from Mount Desert Rock, one 35 miles southeast from Matinicus, 

 and a third 35 miles to the southward of Monhegan Island. The other two fares 

 were caught on Cashe's. 



August 8. — Sis arrivals of mackerel fares, some of which were caught 30 miles north- 

 west from Yarmouth, N. S., and the others 25 miles southeast from Mount Desert 

 Rock. 



It is worthy of notice that quite all of the localities mentioned here by Captain 

 Martin are those where there is deep water, or at least where the depth is more than 

 50 fathoms. Indeed, the area is very small off the coast of Maine where a depth of 

 less than 50 fathoms can be obtained outside of 15 miles from the land. 



§ The following extracts from the Cape Ann Advertiser of July 7, 1882, bear testi- 

 mony to this statement : 



" Schooner Carl Schurz, belonging to Messrs. Rowe & Jordan of this city, landed 

 850 barrels of mackerel iu two trips between 6th and 30th ultimo, June." 



"Schooner Augusta E. Herrick, of Swan's Island, has landed 850 barrels iu fourteen 

 days." 



"Schooner Henry N. Woods, Captain McEachran, seined 500 barrels of mackerel 

 off Seal Island inside of two weeks." 



"Schooner Edward E. Webster, Captain Solomon Jacobs, sailed from Boston on 

 Monday and was back there Thursday with 250 barrels of mackerel, seined off Mount 

 Desert Rock, stocking $1,300." 



