[225] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



mackerel always lead the large ones in their approach to the coast. 

 When he was in the habit of fishing on George's he went there about 

 the first of June, and always caught "finger mackerel" before the large 

 •ones. — (Notes on the Mackerel Fisheries, by G. Brown Goode.) 



1832. — Markets for mackerel. 



In 1832 the demand for mackerel was much greater than the supply, 

 according to Captain Merchant. Philadelphia bought two-thirds of the 

 entire catch of Gloucester, which amounted to 320,000 barrels. 



1826. — The following account of a mackerel voyage on the coast of 

 ."New England in 1820 is from the pen of N. E. Atwood: 



"The first year that I fished for mackerel on this coast was in 1826, 

 and having changed from the laborious and exposed business of cod- 

 fishing on the Labrador coast, I took a good deal of notice of what 

 passed, and, consequently, I still remember a good deal about the voy- 

 age. We sailed from Provincetown on the 28th of June, and went 

 down to a point some twenty leagues northeast of Cape Cod. 



"On the day following we saw one school of mackerel, and, getting 

 into it, we threw out bait, and caught, well, some 3 or 4 barrels. That 

 was the first school which we met with ; and this happened on the 29th 

 of June. It was the last school we saw until the 13th of September, 

 my birthday ; this was a very large school. In five weeks we caught 

 238 barrels of mackerel, and, although it was early in the season, still 

 they packed very well. After they were packed we went out again and 

 secured 250 barrels where we saw the school of mackerel on the 13th of 

 September." 



1827. — Price of mackerel. 



In 1827-'28, according to Capt. William H. Oakes, the price of No. 1 

 mackerel ranged from $4.50 to $5.50 per barrel, while No. 2's sold for 

 #2.50. 



1828. — Mackerel, sales, prices, etc. 



A large quantity of mackerel are afloat amounting, perhaps, to 1,500 

 barrils. The sales have been extensive, though at rather lower prices. 

 The current rates have been 4f to £ for l's and 2\s, and in some cases $5. — 

 (Gloucester Telegraph, April 19, 1828.) 



1828. — Scarcity of mackerel. 



Our fishing vessels the past week have returned with very few mack, 

 erel. Some have brought in only 25 or 30 barrels after being absent a 

 week or ten days. What have been caught were packed out as No. 3's, 

 and very likely the fish have struck off in order to fat for No. l's and 2's- 

 We advise dealers to hold on to what they have, as there is likely to be 

 a scarcity this season. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 12, 1828.) 



