852 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



MACKEREL FISHERY OF THE ATLANTIC COAST 



The mackerel fishery of the Atlantic Coast of the United States 

 had been declining; from 1926 to 1928, but in 1929 there was a sharp 

 recovery. The total catch was over 46,000,000 pounds as compared 

 with less than 31,000,000 in 1928. The gain was due to the incoming 

 of a new year-class, which furnished nearly 21,000,000 pounds of 

 small mackerel. In general, fewer vessels participated regularly in 

 the fisher}" during 1929 than during the previous year. The more 

 remarkable differences as compared with last year were: A poor sein- 

 ing season and a more successful gill-net season in the south, a tre- 

 mendous run of small mackerel oft" New England in August and 

 September and the virtual failure of fall netting out of Gloucester. 



Statistical summaries appear in the accompanying tables. As 

 heretofore, only the purse seine and drift gill-net fisheries have been 

 included. They have been designated as "seiners" and "netters," 

 respectively. Because of their importance in certain seasons boats 

 under 5 tons and operating purse seines or gill nets have been included 

 in so far as data were available. The catch of shore gear, such as 

 pound nets and traps were omitted. Practically all of the statistics 

 were collected by the bureau's agents at Cape May, N. J., New York 

 City, Boston, Gloucester, and Woods Hole, Mass., and Portland, Me. 

 A few data on landings, particularly at ports not having a bureau 

 representative, were secured from unofficial sources and consist of 

 estimated, rather than "weighed-out" fares. The error involved is 

 probably well under 5 per cent in the vessel fisher3^ The figures on 

 the boat fishery are probably less complete. The small fish have been 

 enumerated separately from the medium and large. The term "small " 

 refers to mackerel one-half or three-fourths i)ound in weight. The 

 catch of bullseye mackerel, Scomher colias, was not included. It 

 amounted to 54,170 pounds in 1929, as compared with 935,675 the 

 previous year. 



Southern fishery. — This includes the catch of mackerel in waters 

 oft" New York, New Jersey, Delawaie, Maryland, and Virginia. 

 The area is bounded on the east b}' lougitude 72° W., which passes 

 through the eastern end of Long Island about 9 miles west of Montauk 

 Point. 



Most of the vessels participating in this fishery sailed south from 

 Gloucester during the last week in March and the first week in April, 

 and the first catch was made by seiners on April 7 and landed at 

 Cape May, N. J., on April 8. Seining operations continued in this 

 area mitil May 28. 



I'nfavorable weather persisted during such a large portion of the 

 season that only 26 vessels remained in the fishery during the entire 

 period; 28 others participated part of the time and altogether the 

 seining fleet took 3,233,521 pounds, as compared with 6,192,739 in 

 the previous year. 



Netters operated in the southern waters from April 21 to May 31. 

 They were relatively more successful than were the seiners. In 

 general, fair weather prevailed during the full moon periods when 

 gill netting is mostly pursued. This, together with the participation 

 of more vessels, pioduced a catch of 2,952,938 pounds, as compared 

 with 1,215,937 pounds in the previous year. 



