50 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



1920, a decrease of 39,476 barrels. The total catch of salted mack- 

 erel was 3,242 barrels, compared with 4,897 barrels the previous 

 year, a decrease of 1,655 barrels. The quantity of mackerel landed 

 at Boston, Gloucester, and Portland by the fishing lieet during the 

 year was 3,384,180 pounds, valued at $335,626, of which 2,734,680 

 pounds, valued at $290,164, were fresh and 649,500 pounds, valued 

 at $45,462 were salted. These were all landed by American fishing 

 vessels. There was a decrease in the total catch of mackerel landed 

 at these ports of 3,909,541 pounds in quantity and of $427,468 in 

 value, as compared with the previous year. 



In 1921 the total catch of mackerel up to July 1 was 33,632 barrels 

 fresh and 3,143 barrels salted, compared with 60,842 barrels fresh 

 and 3,357 salted the previous year. In the southern mackerel fishery 

 the purse-seine vessels had a poor season and the gill-net vessels had 

 only fair success. The fleet numbered about 35 seiners and 125 

 netters. The first vessels sailed on March 30, which was about a 

 week earlier than in the previous year. The weather was unfavor- 

 able for fishing most of the time. The seiners reported seeing more 

 fish in the South than for many years. The first vessel arrived at 

 New York April 7 with 6,000 pounds of fresh mackerel weighing 

 from 1 to 3 pounds each, which sold at 50 cents per pound. These fish 

 were caught in latitude 37.50 in 32 fathoms of water. A large fleet 

 of netters arrived at New York May 23 with about 300,000 pounds 

 of fresh mackerel, which was one of the largest day's receipts at that 

 port in recent years. The weather was good on the Cape Shore, and 

 this fishery was comparatively successful, three vessels making second 

 trips. The fish were caught mostly at night and in small schools. The 

 first arrivals from Cape Shore were on May 31, one vessel having 

 50,000 pounds and another 75,000 pounds, which sold at 10 cents 



f)er pound. The Cape Shore fleet consisted of 27 vessels, which 

 anded 2,160,100 pounds of fresh mackerel and 3,143 barrels of salted 

 mackerel, compared with 30 vessels and 1,290,000 pounds of fresh 

 mackerel and 3,217 barrels of salted mackerel the previous year. 

 The fish averaged large; the fresh sold from 6.6 to 16 cents per 

 pound and the salted from $12 to $13.50 per barrel. 



SWORDPISH. 



The catch of swordfish amounted to 1,597,645 pounds, valued at 

 $318,406. The number of vessels engaged in this fishery was 66, or 

 4 more than in the previous year, but there was a decrease in the 

 catch of over 36.89 per cent in quantity and 35.57 per cent in value. 



FLOUNDERS. 



The catch of flounders in the vessel fishery amounted to 2,604,657 

 pounds, valued at $111,956, a decrease of 1,033,117 pounds, or 28.39 

 per cent, in quantity and of $54,939, or 32.91 per cent, in value. The 

 catch taken by boats under 5 tons net tonnage is not included in 

 these statistics. 



HERRING. 



The catch of herrmg amoimted to 2,613,540 pounds, valued at 

 $40,407. Of this quantity, 2,062,140 pounds, valued at $20,823, 

 were taken off the coast of the United States and landed fresh; and 



