[317] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL F1SHP:RY. 407 



1871. — Notes on the mackerel fisheries, etc, of the prov- 

 inces OF NEW BRUNSWICK AND NOVA SCOTIA. 



In his report for 1871 Mr. Venning- states that Mr. John Fitggerald. 

 overseer for the western district, says : " Tlie mackerel v/as more ])r()- 

 ductive this year than it has been for the hist ten years, but tlie qtialiry 

 was very poor. Tlie fall mackerel have been a total failure ; and as this 

 fish, if of first quality, would bring a high price, the loss has been 

 seriously felt by the fishermen. The mackerel tliat have been caught 

 this year have brought a very low price, luit when the large quantity 

 taken is considered, the fishermen have no reason to compUiin." 



Mr. Daniel Dimock, overseer for the eastern district of Lunenburg, 

 says: "The shore fisheries in this district have been productive, more 

 especially the mackerel." 



In same report, Mr. Yenning also state<l that, "Overseer James .A. . 

 Tory, of Guysborongh County, says Avith reference to his district: 'The 

 fisheries as a whole have been good this season, especially for mackerel, 

 and although prices have rnled low they will compare favorably with 

 the past.' " 



In same report Mr. Venning further states that, "Mr. Francis Qui- 

 nan, the officer in charge of Cape Breton County, reports as follows : 

 'The total quantity offish taken is considerably above that of former 

 years. The run of mackerel was abundant, but of small size ; the large 

 brands were conspicuons by their absence ; No. 3's ruled, and of their 

 kind were good, but the i)rice realized in our markets was less than in 

 years past.'"— (Report of W. H. Venning, esq., inspector of fisheries 

 for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. An. Rep. Mar. and Fish., 1871, 

 Appendix N.) 



1871. — The mackerel fishery. 



The Cape Ann Advertiser of September 1 gives the following account 

 of the mackerel fishery in 1871 : 



" The fisheries.— The bay fleet come along sloAvly. There have been 

 but eleven arrivals thus far, the vessels averaging about 300 barrels 

 each. The quality of the mackerel is not as good as those taken oti" this 

 shore, and l)ut few numb(n' ones have as yet been landed, but the catch 

 of the present month and next will, no doubt, average much better. 

 Prices rule low, considering the small mimber of barrels landed this 

 year, and it will require pretty large fares to realize a paying season's 

 work. Late advices from the bay report mackerel scarce. 



"The shore fleet have done rather a slim business the past month. 

 Some of the seiners have made some good trips, but the hookers, with 

 a few exceptions, have done very poorly, the mackerel not inclining to 

 bite. Had it not been for the seiners the market would have been bare 

 of shore mackerel -, as it is, the catch has not been half as large as it was 

 up to this time last year. The mackerel average mostly ones and are 

 very large and fat, the (piality being much better tlmii those caught otf 



