[229] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



ing, employ probably not less than six or seven hundred hands. More 

 mackerel is usually taken by them than by any other people on the 

 coast. — From the Salem Landmark. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 

 14, 1836.) 



18.36. — Small catch of mackerel. 



From present appearances the number of mackerel taken this year 

 will fall short some hundred barrels of the last year's catch. There are 

 mackerel enough, we are told, but they do not bite freely. Some fisher- 

 men have abandoned the mackerel fishery entirely and taken out cod- 

 fishing papers. — Democrat. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 1, 1836.) 



1836. — Active demand for mackerel. 



The demand for mackerel has been very active, and in consequence 

 of a limited supply, prices have advanced. Sales of No. 1, $9.75®$10; 

 No. 2, $8.75®$9 ; No. 3, $6.— (Gloucester Telegraph, October 12, 18$6.) 



The supplies [of mackerel] are very light and prices have again ad- 

 vanced. No. 1 at $10©$10.50, No. 2 at $9, No. 3 at $6.50. One thou- 

 sand barrels, principally Nos. 1 and 2, were taken out of our market on 

 Monday.— (Gloucester Telegraph, October 19, 1836.) 



1836. — Captain Atwood's experience in the mackerel fishery 

 of the gulf of saint lawrence. 



Q. Where did you fish during the remainder of the six years? — A. 

 The next year, 1836, was my second year there at the Magdalen Islands, 

 1 having done so well there the years previous. I want it to be un- 

 derstood that I was in a small vessel with a small crew. 



Q. Perhaps you will give the tonnage and the number of the crew? 

 — A. Her tonnage was 59, with the then reckoning, but now it would 

 be called less than 40. We went direct that year to the Magdalen 

 Islands, and we fouud that there had been some mackerel caught there, 

 but none within a few days of that period ; and as we had heard that 

 mackerel were sometimes taken at Newfoundland, we bore up and went 

 over there. The next day after our arrival we tried near Cape St. 

 George, but though we tried all day. we never saw one, and so we re- 

 turned to the Magdalen Islands, and remained there during the fishing 

 term until we obtained a full cargo — 225 barrels. We afterward pro- 

 ceeded westward, and found that vessels which had been fishing about 

 Prince Edward Island, and further up, on Bradley Bank and elsewhere r 

 had done better than that; but we were satisfied; our voyage suited 

 as, and we had got all we wanted. — (Proceedings Halifax Commission.) 



Extent of Massachusetts fisheries for 1837. 



In 1837 there were employed in Massachusetts in the cod and mack- 

 erel fisheries 1.290 vessels, manned by 11,140 men, and the tish taken 

 were valued at $3,208,559; about one-half of these were in the cod fish- 

 ery. — Gloucester Telegraph, February 150, 1839. — (From the report of the 

 Washington Commission on Salt Bounty.) 



