REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. | 95 
Cape Shore May 25, and on June 6 the number had increased to 24 
sail. The first mackerel of the season from this region were landed at, 
Boston on June 9, the trip consisting of 10,000 large and 35,000 
medium fresh mackerel and 170 barrels salted. On June 10 there 
were 3 other arrivals from the Cape Shore with fares taken off Halifax 
and Liverpool, the combined catch amounting to 125,000 of mixed 
fresh mackerel and 230 barrels salted. At that time there were 15 
other seiners on the ground, all of which captured schools of mackerel. 
Mackerel were reported plentiful on the Cape Shore until June 21, and 
many large trips were taken. The highest stock made by a single 
vessel in this region was $6,343, which is the largest recorded for one 
trip in recent years. Fish were also abundant during the month on 
grounds in the vicinity of No Mans Land, the entire fleet of seiners 
and netters fishing in that locality doing well. 
Swordfish.—This species was more plentiful in 1915 than in the 
previous year, and 2,238,967 pounds, having a value of $221,559, 
were landed at Boston and Gloucester, an increase of 739,123 pounds 
and $43,860 over 1914. There were 42 vessels engaged in the fishery, 
operating mostly on the more eastern grounds, although some good 
catches were made on Georges, Nantucket Shoals, and adjacent 
grounds. On July 20, 17 vessels landed at the Boston Fish Pier 
1,126 swordfish that had been taken on Georges. This was probably 
the greatest number of swordfish ever landed at an American port 
in one day. 
Winter gill-net fishery—The winter gill-net fishery practically 
ceased at the end of May. A fleet of 30 vessels was employed at 
Gloucester during the season, and there were a few vessels that oper- 
ated out of other ports. Fishing was conducted on the inshore 
grounds along the New England coast from Cape Ann to Portland. 
As in previous years, the principal species taken by this method 
were cod, haddock, and pollock. While the fleet as a whole did not 
meet with the same degree of success as in some years past, the 
fishery was an improvement over the previous season. Several 
good stocks were made, one vessel making $30,000, with a share of 
$1,500 to each member of the crew. .This was probably the highest 
record ever attained in one season by a vessel engaged in the winter 
gill-net fishery. 
Italian fishing boats.—The number of Italian motor boats fishing 
out of Boston and landing their catch at that port has increased in the 
last few years. At the present time there are approximately 200 
boats of this class engaged in the shore fisheries, all of which are too 
small for registration, being under 5 tons, and in consequence their 
catch is not recorded in the Boston and Gloucester bulletins. These 
boats take a variety of species and operate several kinds of fishing 
gear, namely, trawl bade Hand lines, and drag seines. 
Some ten years ago the catch of this class of boats consisted largely 
of flounders, but in the last few years greater efforts have been made 
to capture other species of ground fish, such as cod, haddock, cusk, 
hake, etc. Mackerel also have been taken to some extent. In 1915 
the Italian catch landed at Boston, and sold through the New England 
Fish Exchange, was over 3,500,000 pounds of fish, valued at $135,000. 
The catch consisted largely of cod, haddock, pollock, hake, and cusk. 
The amount of flounders landed was about 36,000 pounds. 
