[19»3] history of the mackerel fishery. 283 



47. — Statistics of maine. 



The mackerel inspection of the State of Maine is exhibited in two 

 statements, showing the total number of barrels of pickeled mackerel 

 packed within the State for a series of years. 



The first statement shows in detail the number of barrels of each 

 grade of mackerel inspected iu the several inspection ports of the State 

 during the years 1804 to 1820, and from 18G4 to 1878, and was compiled 

 by Mr. Starbuck from the original returns of the inspectors, deposited 

 in the ofiQce of the secretary of state. Until the year 1820 Maine was 

 a district of Massachusetts, but since that year has been a separate 

 State. For the years from 1820 to 1864 the original returns could not 

 be found, and it is probable that the returns of many years between 

 18G4 and 1878 exhibit not more than 50 per cent, of the actual number 

 of barrels of mackerel packed in the State. 



The second statement shows the total number of barrels of each grade 

 of mackerel packed in the State during a series of years, and is com- 

 piled from the following sources : 1804 to 1820, from the official inspec- 

 tion returns; 1825, 1834, 1836 to 1838, and 1851, from Sabine's report 

 on the American fisheries ; 1864 to 1878, from the ofiicial inspection re- 

 turns; 1879 to 1881, from the annual reports of the Boston fish bu- 

 reau. 



A review of the statement indicates that the mackerel industry of 

 the State wa« more extensively prosecuted in 1881 than during any pre- 

 vious year. 



