80 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



MACKEREL AND MENHADEN INVESTIGATIONS. 

 MACKEREL. 



The observations made in 1893-94 respecting the natural history of 

 the mackerel and the fisheries to which it gives rise were repeated dur- 

 ing the past year in accordance with the same plan and on practically 

 the same basis. The capricious habits of the species, its fluctuating 

 abundance as indicated by the size of catch, its wide distribution and 

 far-reaching movements make it one of the most difficult of all the 

 commercial fishes to study or to comprehend. It is thought, how- 

 ever, that the series of investigations which has been in progress for 

 several years and which is still to be continued will throw much new 

 light ui^on the practical questions connected with its history, and will 

 aid in determining to wiiat extent, if any, the supply may be affected 

 by the several methods employed for its capture. 



At the beginning of the fiscal year the schooner Grampns, E. E. 

 Hahn, master, and AV. C, Kendall, naturalist, was investigating the 

 offshore mackerel fisheries in the Gulf of Maine, with headquarters at 

 Gloucester, Mass. The latter part of July and the first half of August, 

 1894, were spent in cruising in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the season's 

 work terminating at Gloucester the last of August. In the spring of 

 1895 the Grampus was again detailed to the study of this species and 

 continued to be so employed until the end of the fiscal year. The 

 inquiries were of the same character as in previous seasons, being 

 designed to secure as complete a history as possible of the early move- 

 ments of the mackerel as they approach and work up the coast on the 

 way to their several spawning and summer schooling grounds. The 

 cruise began on April 12. Lewes, Del., was made the headquarters 

 until May 10, when, the body of fish having left southern waters, the 

 Grampus proceeded to the region off JSTew York and thence eastward 

 over Georges and Browns banks to the coast of jSTova Scotia. Here the 

 schools of fish were closely followed to Cape is^orth, Cape Breton Island, 

 and a short cruise made into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The schooner 

 returned the last of June to Gloucester, where preparations were made 

 to continue the inquiries during the summer iu the Gulf of Maine. 



Shore parties were at work at all seasons of the year during which the 

 mackerel were present on the coast. During July and August, 1894, 

 Capt. A. C. Adams and Dr. W. E. Wolhaupter, with the assistance of 

 the steamer Fish Hawl; were engaged on the coast of Maine, tlieir inves- 

 tigations extending eastward from Portland as far as Jonesport. All 

 important fishing localities were visite'd, the nets and catch inspected, 

 and the fishermen interviewed. Subsequently and until late in the 

 fall, Captain Adams was occupied mainly with the study of the fishery 

 from the ports of Gloucester, Boston, and Portland, while Dr. Wol- 

 haupter returned to the southern (;oast of ISlew England to complete 

 his observations begun there the i)revious spring. Both of these 

 assistants again took up the field work in April, 1895. Caj)tain Adams's 



