520 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [430] 



XL APPENDIX.— STATISTICS OF THE MACKEREL 

 FISHERY IN THE GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE. 



66, THE CATCH OF MACKEREL BY AMERICAN SCHOONERS IN CANA- 

 DIAN WATERS, 1873-1882. 



The folio wiiig statement, prepared by Colonel David W. Low, of Glou- 

 cester, shows the extent of the mackerel fishery as pursued by Ameri- 

 can vessels in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence since the year 1873. The 

 number of vessels and their catch in the years 1873 to 1877, inclusive, is 

 compiled from the reports of the collector of customs atPortMulgrave, 

 Nova Scotia; the number of vessels in 1878 and 187i) is from the same 

 authority ; the catch for 1878 and subsequent years and the number of 

 vessels in 1880 and 1881 is from reports of the Boston Fish Bureau. 

 The estimates of value and the catch within the tliree mile limit are 

 from authentic sources. The value includes the labor of crews ''mess- 

 ing" some of the fish by soaking, scraping, and cutting off their heads, 

 thus increasing their market value. The quantity of mackerel caught 

 within the three-mile limit, one-third of the total catch, is considered by 

 competent authorities to be a very liberal estimate. The unusual number 

 of vessels in the gulf in 1878 was caused by false reports and telegrams 

 of great quantities of mackerel there. American vessels in the gulf- 

 mackerel fishery must average four hundred barrels of mackerel each at 

 ten dollars per barrel to pay the expenses of outfit, insurance, deprecia- 

 tion of vessel, crew's share, and master's commission. 



Hie mackerel jialwry by American vesaeU in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence for the years from 



1873 to 1881, inclusive. 



Yearly average catch per vessel, 238. 



