[227] history of the mackerel fishery. 



1834.— Scarcity of mackerel on the new England coast. 



The Gloucester Telegraph of September 3, 1834, copies the following 

 extract from the Hingham Gazette: 



"A Halifax paper states that herring and mackerel are very plenty 

 this season. Our fishermen have never found mackerel more scarce than 

 during this season. We hope the fall fishing will be more productive." 



1835. — Inspection of no. 4 mackerel begun. 



Tinkers. — The legislature has concluded that the little fry caught by 

 our mackerel fishermen, commonly called "Tinkers," shall be separated 

 from those of a larger growth and packed by themselves, and branded 

 No. 4. The distinction between No. 3 and No/4 will be, we suppose, 

 only in the size of the fish, without regard to the fatness. Something 

 was said about making all those No. 4 which should be less than six 

 inches long from tip to tail, but it was finally .left rather indefinite, so 

 that each inspector will have to exercise his own discretion and judg- 

 ment as to what constitutes a "tinker." — (Barnstable Patriot, October 

 21, 1835. 



1835. — Capt. N. E. Atwood's experience in the mackerel fish- 

 eries OF THE GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE. 



"In 1842 I was first master, and in 1835 1 first came to the gulf for 

 mackerel. When we arrived there we could hear of no mackerel any 

 where. We went toward the Magdalen Islands, and about 8 miles off 

 from them to the southwest we got a large number of mackerel the first 

 day we were there. This induced us to fish in that vicinity, and we 

 fished between that and the west head of the islands, as we call it, or 

 Deadman's Island, as it is sometimes called. 



"Q. Is that part of the Magdalen Islands'? — A. Yes; it is the west 

 end of them. We fished there all that trip, and the result was that we 

 got about 180 barrels, speaking in round numbers. The crew received 

 a large share, and did much better than those fished to the westward 

 that season. * * * 



"During my first year in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, when we 

 got 180 barrels, we fished at the west end of the Magdalen Islands, 

 and when we set out to go home, the wind freshened from the south- 

 ward, and we struck in somewhere near St. Peter's Sandhills, as we 

 called the place, and while reefing the foresail, we hove the vessel to, 

 and I threw out a few shovels full of bait. Mackerel came up, and 

 seemed to be very abundant, but we only caught about half a barrel. 

 Night came on just as soon as the foresail was reefed, and hoisting it 

 up, we hauled in the hand-lines instead of anchoring there, and went 

 about along shore, hove to, and let the vessel drift off. Next day wo 

 got back to Pleasant Bay, Magdalen Islands. That was all we got 



