34 APPENDIX. 



to inspect all arrivals of mackerel there from the purse-seine fleet, as well 

 as from the shore apparatus tributary to that market. 



" The Grampus sailed from Woods Hole on April 1 0, and reported at 

 Lewes, Del., April 21, having experienced heavy weather up to that date. 

 Very few fish had been observed, and the fishing fleet had accomplished com- 

 paratively nothing. The latter also sought shelter at the same place. Poor 

 success, both in the catch of fish and in the opportunities to make observations 

 upon them, continued thence to the close of the season, and by the middle 

 of May nearly all the purse-seiners had left the southern grounds for the 

 coast of Nova Scotia. The small catch made this season was partly due 

 to stormy weather, but even when all the conditions seemed favourable, 

 mackerel were either scarce or difficult to capture. More light will probably 

 be thrown upon this question when the elaborate series of notes obtained have 

 been worked up ; but the fishermen have failed thus far to recognise any 

 beneficial results from the restrictions placed upon their spring fishery during 

 the previous five years. 



"On May 23, the southern fishery having ended several days before that 

 time, the Grampus left "Woods Hole, where she had put in for supplies, 

 and proceeded to Nova Scotia to continue the inquiries on the same plan as at 

 the south. The entire fleet had assembled there, but no fish were taken on 

 this coast, except in trap-nets on the shore, until after June 1. By June 5 

 some of the fleet had done fairly well, the others poorly. The Grampus 

 returned to Woods Hole the latter part of June, bringing a large quantity of 

 specimens bearing upon the breeding habits, food, size, etc., of the mackerel, 

 together with very complete records of the daily observations. 



"Mr. B. L. Hardin remained at New York from April 12 to June 3, and 

 examined every fare of mackerel landed from the southern fishery, as well as 

 the smaller catches made in the pound -nets along the shores. Notes were 

 kept upon the abundance, sizes, and spawning conditions of the fish, and 

 interviews were held with the masters of the diflerent schooners relative to the 

 more important incidents connected with their several cruises." 



Ditto, p. 57. Division of Statistics. " In May and June, 1893, the field 

 force was placed in the New England States for the special purpose of making 

 a detailed investigation of the commercial aspects of the mackerel fishery. 

 This inquiry was in progress at the close of the fiscal year. 



" Owing to the great attention the mackerel has recently been receiving, 

 on account of the unprecedentedly long period of scarcity, it was important 

 for the purposes of the Commission, in order to afford the best basis for 

 determining the cause and extent of the scarcity, to have accurate and 

 detailed information relating to the various topics which could be legitimately 

 considered by this division. To facilitate the collection of uniform data 

 provision was made for having the agents to obtain the statistics on two printed 

 forms, relating respectively to the fisheries carried on with vessels, and to those 

 carried on from boats and the shore. 



"For the vessel fishery the following information was obtained for each 

 vessel : Name of vessel, hailing port, rig, net tonnage, present value ; value 



