14 THE IMPORTANCE OF 



which now in some measure give a stimulus to in- 

 creased exertion to extend this lucrative branch of 

 our commercial pursuits. 



Another branch of our fisheries which has grown 

 up within a few years is deserving consideration, 

 as an object of great importance to the State and 

 nation, viz : — the Mackerel Fishery. This busi- 

 nes was, as before stated, pursued to some extent 

 in the early settlement of the country, but the 

 whole annual profit of the fishery of Cape Cod, 

 w^hen its proceeds were appropriated for the sup- 

 port of a free grammar school,, was but from £30 

 to £40 annually. This fishery included Macker- 

 el, bass, and herring. It appears from the histor- 

 ical collections, that mackerel were first taken in 

 any considerable quantities in seines by moonlight. 

 This method is supposed to have been first adopt- 

 ed by Mr Isaac Allerton and his associates, at 

 Nantasket, as early as 1626.* Fishing by torch- 

 light is common on the St Lawrence. The scene 

 as witnessed from the banks of that broad and 

 beautiful expanse of water, is described as almost 

 of a fairy nature. The flashing of the lights upon 



• ^' 1671 —John Prince and Nathaniel Bosworlh, of Hull, 

 petition the General Court of Plymouth for lil)erty to fish at 

 Cape Cod for Mackerel, they having discovered a method of 

 fishing with nets by moon-light." — Thacher's History of 

 Plymouth.^' 



