332 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [242] 



or since taken by our fishermen. It is estimated that there were up- 

 wards of 50,000 barrels taken from this school by our fishermen in the 

 course of ten or fifteen days, which inspected nine-tenths No. 1, and 

 this accounts for the increase in their number ; otherwise there would 

 have been a great deficiency in this branch. 



"The increased consumption of No. 1 mackerel up to this time had been 

 fully equal to the sui)ply, according to the best information obtained on 

 the subject ; but the Nos. 2 and 3 mackerel coming more directly in com- 

 petition with the English fish, on account of the low rate of duty, it is 

 fair to calculate that the prices will rule much lower than the usual dif- 

 ference between the No. 1 and 2, esijecially in those years of a large 

 catch. 



"The English mackerel which have come into this market under the 

 brand of No. 2 are of a fair quality, but none are fat enough to make 

 No. 1, compared with the present standard of our inspection ; therefore 

 there will be less inducement for the trade to speculate in English 

 mackerel with a view of reinspection, as formerly." — (Barnstable Pa- 

 triot, January 31, 1849.) 



1848. — Large school of mackerel in the south channel. 



The largest school of mackerel Captain Harding ever saw was in the 

 south channel about the year 1848. It w^as a winrow of fish. It was 

 about half a mile wide and at least 20 miles long, for vessels not in sight 

 of each other saw it at about the same time. All the vessels out saw 

 this school the same day. 



1848. — Abundance of mackerel in the gulf of saint Law- 

 rence. 



A gentleman who came up from Point Escuminac a few days ago says 

 that the Prince Edward Island Gazette informs us that during the last 

 fortnight there have been from 40 to 50 American schooners about two 

 miles from the Point, the crews of which had been busily engaged in 

 catching mackerel, and so abundant are the fish that they have hii'ed 

 persons from the shore to assist them. Some of them had 300 barrels 

 on board. — Halifax paper. — (Barnstable Patriot, September 20, 1848.) 



1848. — Immense schools of mackerel off cape ann. — supposed 



EARLY departure. 



The mackerel which were reported in such immense schools off Cape 

 Ann week before last have been completely broken up or quitted the 

 shores. The vessels took but a few last week. It is about time for 

 mackerel to make their annual visit to the shores of Cape Cod. We 

 have no fear that our fishermen will fail to bait them well and see that 

 they don't suffer for want of salt. — (Barnstable Patriot, October 4, 

 1848.^ 



