[37] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



eral years, pursuing their circular feeding movements until noticed by 

 the fishermen. The same contingencies occur in the Gulf of Saint 

 Lawrence, and similar distribution arising from winds or tides drifting 

 the spawn far from the spot where it was shed, often lead to the estab- 

 lishment of new schools of fish in different localities. 



"This feature in the natural history of the mackerel has already been 

 noticed with regard to the Bay of Fundy schools. 



"The occurrence of mackerel in great abundance on the northeast 

 coast of Newfoundland, aud their subsequent disappearance, may be ex- 

 plained in a similar manner, and may be attributed to unfavorable 

 meteorological conditions, which would drive the floating spawn on 

 shore, or far out to sea. There are, however, other probable reasons 

 for the observed annual variations in the schools, which will now be 

 noticed. 



"In the foregoing paragraphs it is assumed that the fluctuations in 

 the numbers of mackerel observed by fishermen correctly interpret a 

 phenomenon which appears to be generally recognized. 



"But while it is right to receive the statement that very large fluct- 

 uations in the numbers seen usually occur, it is wrong to infer that, be- 

 cause the schools are not visible, proof is afforded that they do not 

 exist. There are strong reasons for believing that during- many seasons 

 the schools escape the notice of fishermen on account of their finding 

 their food in a lower and colder stratum of water, and more rarely com- 

 ing to the surface than during other seasons. It will now be shown 

 how a cold stratum is i>roduced, and that, as a necessary result of the 

 mode of its formation, it varies each year and during every month of 

 the year in vertical position and thickness, and that it is constantly 

 brought to or near the surface on banks and shoals within certain geo- 

 graphical limits. These variations in depth of suitable feeding zones 

 throw light upon the alleged inconsistency of the appearance of the 

 mackerel, and its selection of coastal waters in some sea-areas and 

 off-shore waters in other areas, and variations in both during different 

 seasons."* 



10. — Observations of American fishermen on the movements 

 of the mackerel schools. 



Since it is not practicable in this place to present a full account of the 

 movements of the mackerel schools along the coast, it may be interest- 

 ing to present the observations of a few reliable observers at different 

 localities. 



Captain King Harding, of Swampscott, gave me a very full account 

 of the movements of the mackerel in Massachusetts Bay. 



About the 20th of May the schools begin to draw around Cape Cod 

 into the bay; the earliest date, in the memory of Captain Harding, is 



"Hind. Fisheries of British North America, pp. 23,23. 



