[235] history of the mackerel fishery. 325 



1841. — Doings of the cape cod and cape ann fleets. — night 

 fishing a new feature in the mackerel fishery. 



The quantity of mackerel taken the present season is, thus far, not 

 materially different from the quantity caught last year. A few vessels 

 from Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Dennis, have been more successful, but 

 this is by no means the case with vessels generally. — (Yarmouth Reg- 

 ister.) 



Mackerel are reported to be more plenty the present than they have 

 been the last two or three years past; but our fishermen do not seem to 

 meet with much success in taking them. It is somewhat remarkable 

 that thus far the present sea^son nearly all the mackerel that have been 

 caught have been taken in the night, while heretofore this tishhas scarcely 

 ever been known to bite after sundown. — (Gloucester Telegxaph, July21, 

 1841.) 



There have been but few arrivals of mackerel this week, for which a 

 ready demand has been experienced, and prices are consequently a shade 

 higher, No. 1, $11.50; No. 2, $10.25; No. 3, $5.75 and $6 per barrel.— 

 {Ihid.) 



1841. — A CURIOUS REASON GIVEN FOR THE SCARCITY OF MACKEREL 



A correspondent suggests as a cause for the scarcity of mackerel the 

 general practice of using "hardhead" [menhaden] for bait, the sharp- 

 bones of which fish kill the mackerel that feed upon it. The suggestion 

 is worthy of consideration, at least. — Yarmouth Register. — (Gloucester 

 Telegraph, January 30, 1841.) 



1841. — First fare of the season. 



A fare of 66 barrels of mackerel, the first arrival this season, came up 

 from an outport. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 16, 1841.) 



1841. — Discouraging prospects for the mackerelmen. 



Two vessels arrived this week from mackereling, absent over three 

 weeks, without obtaining one barrel of mackerel. The prospects for the 

 mackerel fishermen this year are unusually discouraging. — (Gloucester 

 Telegraph, August 7, 1841.) 



1841. — The mackerel fishery. — what were considered good 



fares in 1841. 



Seveial of the mackerel fishermen from our vicinity, who were un- 

 usually successful during the first part of the season, have recently 

 returned with very small fares. Many of our most exi^erienced fisher- 

 men are included in the number, who give as their opinion that the 



