REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [236] 



number of mackerel rapidly diminishes every year. — (Yarmouth Reg- 

 ister.) 



Two of the Gloucester vessels have recently come in with tolerable 

 fares — good, indeed, they may be called in the present state of the fish- 

 eries. We have heard of one vessel with 90 and another with 120 bar- 

 rels. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 11, 1841.) 



1841. — Favorable reports from gulf of saint lawrence. 



Favorable accounts have been received from Bay Chaleur, and full 

 fares are expected from the fishery in that quarter. — (Gloucester Tele- 

 graph, August 11, 1841.) 



1841. — Almost total failure of the mackerel fishery. — Bad 



results therefrom. 



The Gloucester Telegraph says that nearly the whole fleet from that 

 port were returning, and mostly without mackerel. — (Philadelphia Ga- 

 zette.) 



So unfavorable has been the mackerel fishery the present season (and 

 it was nearly as bad the last and preceding years) that most of those 

 who have been actively engaged in it have not earned enough to carry 

 themselves and families through the winter. Iudeed, we heard one indi- 

 vidual remark the other day that he himself had seen a hundred fish- 

 ermen who, after all the toil, privations, and dangers they had endured 

 during the whole fishing season, had not a dollar coming to them, or 

 either of them, now that they have returned to their homes and fami- 

 lies. We have heard of a firm who, upon settling up the voyages of 

 their vessels, paid to the crew of one $1.43 each man — to that of 

 another a little more, and to others nothiug. And such has been the 

 general result of the fisheries for the season just closed. * ; * * It 

 would have been better for their owners, in a pecuniary point of view, 

 had most of our fishing vessels been suffered for the last two or three 

 years to remain at the wharves, instead of being sent either to the banks 

 or down to the bay * * *. — (Gloucester Telegraph, November 17, 

 1841.) 



The whole of the bay fleet are now in [the last two arrivals brought 

 home 90 and 80 barrels of mackerel, respectively, besides from 100 to- 

 200 quintals of codfish. Four Gloucester vessels reported as seized and 

 condemned at Halifax for alleged violations of the treaty]. — (lb.) 



1842. — Arrivals from George's. 



Six schooners, reported in Gloucester Telegraph of August 10, 1842, 

 arrived from George's Bank with fares of mackerel ranging from 20 to 

 140 barrels each. August 18, live schooners from George's with fares 

 varying from 25 to 120 pounds. 



