[253] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



cers of the cutters would, say they were within the limits, and seize 

 them. Not being allowed to fish in the Bay of Chaleur is another cause, 

 as our vessels in years past have sometimes obtained full fares there, 

 and would have done so this year could they have fished in that bay, as 

 it was full of mackerel. Last year at this time many of the vessels 

 had returned from their second trips, but now there are many who have 

 not returned from their first, and there will be but few who will make 

 more than two. 



The prospect for the remainder of the season is not very favorable, 

 and if those vessels now at the bay return with more than half a fare, 

 they will do better than is now anticipated. The fish at this season 

 tend mostly in-shore, and at the best fishing - grounds there are two or 

 three cutters who will keep the Americans off, and they will therefore 

 not be able to do much. 



The quality of mackerel this season has been different than for a few 

 years past. Those brought from the bay have been very large and 

 handsome, and commanded high prices; while those taken off our coast 

 have been smaller and not of so good quality. Sales have been made 

 this week of several trips of bay mackerel at the following rates: "No. 

 l's, $12; 2's, $10; 3's, $0.75. Shore mackerel have brought $9f, $7f, 

 and $5^ for the three Nos. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 25, 1852.) 



1852. — LOSS OF MANY MACKEREL SCHOONERS IN THE BAY. 



The Gloucester Telegraph of October 30, 1852, reports the loss of 21 

 vessels at Souris, Prince Edward Island, in a heavy gale which took 

 place on the 15th of that month. The vessels went into that harbor 

 with the wind ME., but it shifted suddenly round to the SSW., and 

 they could not get out. 



1852. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 



In the spring of 1852 I went south on a mackerel trip in the schooner 

 "Science," of about 50 tons, old measurement. We started about the 

 1st of May, and were gone four or five weeks, bringing to Boston a fare 

 of 4 > sea packed barrels. Our fishing ground was from Barnegat to 

 Block Island, though we caught but few mackerel south or west of Fire 

 Island. At this time all of the vessels belonging to Northern New 

 England ports salted their spring catch of mackerel, and generally 

 packed them north of Cape Cod. A considerable number of sloop 

 smacks, belonging at Noank and New London, Conn., engaged in the 

 spring mackerel fishery to supply the New York market, taking the fish 

 in alive in their wells. Their crews fished with poles, as anglers do for 

 trout, being thus enabled to drop the mackerel into the well without 

 touching them, even from the extremities of this vessel. In June we 

 went to the Bay of Saint Lawrence, where we caught about 150 barrels, 

 being absent from home nearly seven weeks. The mackerel were of 

 large size that year in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, but not very abuu- 



