438 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



including 26 steam otter-trawl vessels. This is an increase of 9 ves- 

 sels over the previous year. 



As indicative of the increasing popularity of fresh fish in preference 

 to salted fish, there were but 4 vessels engaged in the salt-bank 

 fishery in 1927, or 2 less than a year ago. In contrast with this, 

 there were 166 vessels in the market fishery and 181 in the shore 

 fishery, which is considerably more than a year ago. The mackerel 

 fishery was prosecuted by 124 vessels, the swordfish fisher}^ by 79 

 vessels, and the herring fishery by 10 vessels. 



All vessels fishing made a total of 10,162 trips to the grounds, or 

 17 per cent more than in 1926. In making these trips, including the 

 date of departm-e and date of arrival, these vessels were absent from 

 port 47,258 days, or on the average about 43^ days per trip. The 

 average length of trips made in March, 1927 (which w^as about 33^ 

 days) was less than for any other month in the year. The longest 

 trips were made during July and August, when the average trip con- 

 sumed about 6 days. Generally, the number of days' absence per 

 trip was 5 in the summer months and 4 in the winter months. This 

 undoubtedly is due to the influence of mackerel and swordfish ves- 

 sels, which generally make longer trips than vessels engaged in other 

 fisheries. 



Fishery hy months. — Total landings of fish at these ports during the 

 month of August, which amounted to 28,950,309 pounds, exceeded 

 those for any other month during the year, although March, with 

 28,092,327 pounds, ranked a close second. Landings made during the 

 other months ranged between about 16,000,000 and 24,000,000 pounds, 

 those made during the summer months being generally greater. 



Otter-trawl fishery. — In 1927, 26 otter-trawl vessels in 794 trips 

 landed 77,577,439 pounds of fishery products at Boston, Gloucester, 

 and Portland, valued at $2,208,602. This is a decrease of 4 in the 

 number of vessels under 1926 and an increase of 19 per cent in the 

 number of trips, 27 per cent in amount of products, and 10 per cent 

 in value. 



In making the trips (including the date of departure and date of 

 arrival), these vessels were absent from port 5,954 days, making the 

 average trip of about 114. days' duration. This is 12 per cent longer 

 than in 1926, when the trips averaged about 8 days. Of the total 

 catch by otter trawls, 89 per cent consisted of haddock, 5 per cent of 

 cod, and the remainder of hake, pollock, cusk, halibut, and various 

 miscellaneous species. Almost the entire catch was taken from South 

 Channel, but lesser quantities came from Nantucket Shoals and 

 Georges Bank, which are near by, and an almost neghgible quantity 

 from Western Bank and off Chatham. 



In 1927, March was the best individual month for fishing by these 

 otter trawlers, and 11,503,841 pounds, or 15 per cent of their total 

 catch, was taken in that month. Landings during the other months 

 ranged between 4,000,000 and 8,000,000 pounds, those during the 

 winter months being generally greater. 



The following table gives the statistics obtained on the vessel 

 fisheries centering at Boston, Gloucester, and Portland for 1927, for 

 vessels of 5 net tons and upward, as measured by the United States 

 Customs Service. The weights of fresh and salted fish given in these 

 statistics represent the fish as landed from the vessels, and the values 

 are those received by the fishermen. The grades, or sizes, given for 

 certain species are those recognized in the trade. 



