[233] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 323 



OVERFISHING DESTROYING THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



After commenting on the great demand for m^ickerel in the West, it 

 (the Newburyport Herald) says : " It appears now ahnost reduced to a 

 certainty that the time is not distant when, if we are not compelled in a 

 great measure to abandon the business, it will be prosecuted as an un- 

 certain one, and by a greatly decreased number of vessels and men. 

 There is of late not more than one successful season out of four." — 

 (Gloucester Telegrapli, August 18, 1838.) 



1838. — Captain atwood's experience in the mackerel fisher- 

 ies OF THE GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE. 



My brother and I bought a little vessel and fished around home, and 

 we finally concluded to go to the Bay of Saint Lawrence. We did so, 

 and stopped there some six weeks. 



Q. When was that ? — A. In 1838. We stopped only six weeks, and 

 we got only about twenty barrels. 



Q. Where ? — A. We were at the Magdalen Islands all the time. We 

 had poor sails and a poor vessel, and we found it much safer about the 

 Magdalen Islands. We always considered it safer than in the bight of 

 Prince Edward Island. 



Q. And twenty barrels were all that you got that year ? — A. Yes. We 

 came home about the 20th of September. We went to the bay in 

 August, and we remained there, I think, about six weeks. — (Proceed- 

 ings Halifax Commission.) 



1838. — Appearance of mackerel in barnstable bay. 



Mackerel have made their appearance in the bay (Barnstable Bay) 

 in considerable quantities. On Thursday we saw from the Highland a 

 fleet of about 100 sail lying from Gurnet to Manomet, making a beau- 

 tiful appearance. They were apparently taking fish. We noticed also 

 a great number of small boats among them. We learned at Plymouth 

 that boat fishing had been a very good business for the last week or two, 

 some individuals clearing $30 per day each. The mackerel taken are of 

 the best quality. * * * — (Hingham Patriot.) 



Provincetown, Septemhcr 9. — The mackerel fishermen are doing 

 well. It is estimated that 3,000 barrels were taken in Barnstable Bay 

 on Friday last. One vessel took 70 barrels on that day. — (Gloucester 

 Telegraph, September 12, 1838.) 



1838. — A big fleet in barnstable bay. 



The mackerel fishermen have continued to do a little better of late, 

 though we suspect not near as well as is generally supposed. We have 

 been informed, on what we esteem good authority, that the average 

 number of barrels taken on Friday last would not exceed ten i)er vessel, 



