[41] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



the same route they came. Mackerel spend their winters either in the 

 Gulf Stream or south of it, none being seen or caught after they leave 

 the coast of Massachusetts. Mackerel are first seen off Cape Hatteras 

 and along by Cape May usually about the last of April. As a rule the 

 head of the shoals axe large and the smaller come right after. From 

 April to July they continue to come at different times. They commence 

 leaving about the 1st of November, and continue going in the same man- 

 ner they had come, some earlier, some later, until into December, then 

 they disappear. When they return in the spring they are very poor. 

 Mackerel appear on the coast regular and certain; they never fail. In 

 some years they are more abundant than in others. If the bait upon which 

 they feed comes on the coast then they follow, and in proportion as the 

 live bait is found so is the abundance of the mackerel. The sexes come 

 together, and they spawn in about two to four weeks after they arrive. 

 Mackerel take the hook at first as well as at any time, and both sexes 

 are alike in this respect. Mackerel sometimes swim at the top of the 

 water, but sometimes they cannot be seen. Birds are often attracted 

 by them. The spawn often runs from these fish when taken by hooks ? 

 and it is frequently seen floating in the seines. Mackerel are not anad- 

 romous. Fish of all ages are found together on the breeding grounds. 

 Mackerel are found in all sorts of water, deep and shallow, but they seem 

 to prefer shallow water around the shore and on the off-shore shoals. 

 They like warm water better than cold." 



Mr. Josiah Snow, of Boston, Mass., makes the following report on the 

 movements and migrations of mackerel: 



"Mackerel come on this coast from the south, first appearing off Cape 

 Hatteras and then off Long Island Sound, so continuing along the coast. 

 After passing Cape Cod they become fatter as the season advances. 

 They pass along the coast of Maine into the Bay of Fundy, to the Bay 

 of Chaleur and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. I do not think all the 

 mackerel found in the Bay of Chaleur follow the American coast; part 

 of them appear to come direct from the south, striking into Chaleur 

 through the Gut of Canso. Mackerel leave the coast in about the same 

 manner as they come, some passing off southeasterly, some following 

 the coast closely and going around Cape Cod. At this time, the season 

 being so far advanced, with bad weather, vessels do not follow them. 

 Though there are many conjectures on this point, it is my opinion that 

 they (mackerel) spend their winter in the Gulf Stream, or at the south 

 of it. It is certain that when they leave this coast in the fall they are 

 fat, and are very poor when they return in the spring. They generally 

 spawn on our coast. Mackerel are first seen in quantity about May 

 1, and during May and June appear to be constantly coming. Per- 

 haps a few arrived in April. As a rule the first to come are the larger 

 ones, and the smaller soon after. They commence leaving the shore 

 about November 1, and continue going through part of December, 

 They always appear on this coast in summer. I think more come some 



