[91] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 



herrings j* and some prefer this fish for bait, as it is not so bony as 

 menhaden, but when the mackerel got to be worth having-, about every- 

 body adopted menhaden for bait; it is the cheapest bait."t 



To prepare menhaden for use in the mackerel fishery, the slivers are 

 ground up into a mush which is called "ground bait." The slivers are 

 passed through a bait-mill, which is a machine somewhat resembling a 

 farmer's feed cutter. The fish are thrown into the hopper, and, by the 

 agency of a roller operated by a crank at the side of the mill, are passed 

 through a complicated array of sharp knives arranged upon the sides 

 of the mill, and in spiral rows upon the roller. The bait is usually 

 ground at night by the watch on deck. As a rule the bait is run through 

 the mill twice in order to make it fine enough. When the vessel has no 

 bait-mill, which at present is rarely the case, the fish are cut up with 

 a hatchet or scalded with boiliug water in a tub. Bait-mills were first 

 introduced about the year 182.'. Prior to the introduction of the bait- 

 mill all the bait was cut up at night with the hatchet, by the watch, upon 

 a chopping-block, which was a large flat-topped piece of wood resembling 

 a butcher's meat-block. The veterans of this fishery relate with great 

 glee how they used to be kept awake all night by the pounding of the 

 bait-cutter over their heads, and contrast the present usages with those 

 of former days. When there was leisure in the day-time, three or four 

 men would work at the block together, each chopping with his own 

 hatchet. In this way a constant supply was kept. Bait which had 

 been ground was packed in barrels full of pickle, and covered up. 



The earlier bait-mills were very rude affairs, the teeth being common 

 nails driven into the barrel and into the sides of the mill and broken 

 off, leaving jagged ends which tore the bait into pieces. Later these 

 were filed down to a point, while at the present time the teeth are arrow- 

 shaped, made of steel, and are attached to the wood by means of shanks 

 made especially for the purpose. Bait-mills are now manufactured by 

 various mechanics at the different ports, those made by Adolph Voss, 

 of Gloucester, being considered among the best. The cost of a good 

 bait-mill is from $8 to $15. 



According to Maj. D. W. Low, the first bait mill was made in 1820, of 

 nails driven in lines across two wooden cylinders and then sharpened. 

 The first one made for grinding or cutting with knives was made in 

 1822 by Gorham Burnham, and they were driven into cylinders in the 

 same manner. In 1823 he commenced putting in the knives'in spiral 

 form, which form has continued in use ever since. He has made and 

 sold in one year $1,000 worth at $10 each, besides making anchors and 

 other work. 



The first bait-mill taken to southern Maine was bought in Gloucester 



*Tlie Clupea aestivalis. 



tN. E. At wood, Proceedings of the Halifax Commission, Appendix L, p. 42, Septem- 

 ber 19, 1877. 



