[43] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



edge of the Gulf Stream in April. They usually depart by the same 

 route. The fish of the first school are seeu in April, and are larger than 

 those of the main body which arrives in June. The schools, which are 

 many, are separated by intervals of nearly a hundred miles. The ap- 

 pearance of mackerel is uncertain in point of time, but they never en- 

 tirely fail. Mackerel will not take the hook at all times. They will 

 scarcely take it at all for ten days or more after they first arrive. They 

 usually swim near the surface, and attract birds, and make a ripple. 

 In the spring months the spawn runs out of the fish caught with the 

 hook, but the eggs are never seen floating in the nets. The mackerel 

 is not an anadromous fish ; they seem to prefer shallow water and a 

 sandy bottom." 



Mr. E. J. Kealley, of Bath, Me., states that "mackerel appear to fol- 

 low the coast northerly in the spring, and to return by the same route. 

 Mackerel are found on the coast of Maine, for the first time in the sea- 

 son at any date from the 15th to the 20th of May, and seem to increase 

 gradually in number until midsummer. The first school is of large size. 

 Different schools leave at different times, but the main body appears to 

 depart early in October. Their appearance is regular and certain. 

 They all take the hook most readily after the spawning season is over. 

 They swim low at their first arrival, but afterward very frequently 

 swim at the surface. The spawn is often seen floating in the nets in 

 considerable quantity. Mackerel are not anadromous. These fish 

 seem to prefer a sandy or gravelly bottom in from G to 12 fathoms of 

 water." 



Mr. Benjamin F. Hinckley, of Georgetown, Me., states that "mack- 

 erel come along the coast from the south and go toward the east ; they 

 return by the same route. They spend the winter at the edge of the 

 €rulf Stream. The first fish are seen about the middle of May, and the 

 main body arrives about the middle of July. The first schools are lar- 

 gest in size. The fish continue to come in at intervals, and also leave at 

 different times. Their appearance is certain. The female fish come first 

 and appear to be ready to spawn. Neither sex will take the hook on first 

 arriving, and this state of things continues for about a month after their 

 arrival. The first schools swim low, but the later ones swim high and 

 attract much attention. The tide has nothing to do with their move- 

 ments. The spawn is often seen floating in the nets in large quantity. 

 Mackerel are not anadromous. Young fish are not found among the 

 spawning ones. After the spawning season is over the fish seem to 

 have no preference in regard to depth of water." 



Mr. George B. Kenniston, of Boothbay, Me., makes the following 

 statements in regard to the movements of the mackerel: 



"They come along the coast from the west, part remaining while 

 others continue toward the east. They depart toward the west. About 

 June 10 the first are seen, and after this some are always to be found 

 until their departure altogether. There are no regular intervals of 



