REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [254] 



dant. Off the New England coast they were very plentiful and in fine 

 condition, though of medium size, scarcely any, or noue, being large 

 enough to pack for No. l's. After returning from the Gulf we fished off 

 the New England coast from Mount Desert Eock to Cape Cod, though 

 we did the best off' and around Monhegan Island during the month of 

 August and early in September. At that time a large fleet was fishing 

 off the Maine coast. 



1852. — Mackerel fishery of new Brunswick in 1852. 



Perley, in his Eeport on the Eisheries of New Brunswick for 1852, 

 says: "It must be considered settled that the mackerel fishery as a 

 branch of business cannot be said to exist in New Brunswick, although 

 the eastern shores of the province and the whole Bay of Chaleur offer 

 the greatest facilities and most abundant supply of fish. 



" It is highly desirable that something should be done to encourage and 

 promote this fishery, which evidently offers such ample reward to the 

 energy, enterprise, and industry of the people." — (Page 16.) 



1853. — The armament in provincial waters for breaking up 

 the american mackerel fishery. 



The St. Johu New Brunswicker, of the 31st ultimo, announces the ar- 

 rival at St. John of H. M. ketch " Netley," which is to be stationed in the 

 Bay of Fundy for the protection of the fisheries this season. H. M. 

 screw steamship "Plumper," fitting out in England, is also expected to 

 be stationed in the bay. H. M. steamers " Basilisk," "Vixen," and " Dev- 

 astation" are to be stationed at Newfoundland and in the Gulf; and four 

 brigantines or schooners are to be immediately fitted out at Halifax for 

 the Gulf, each under the command of a lieutenant in the navy, with 

 twenty-five picked men in each from the flag-ship " Cumberland." These 

 vessels, says the Brunswicker, with other arrangements for an efficient 

 boat service at several of the most favorable resorts in the Gulf for 

 American mackerel fishers, will doubtless prove the means of preventing 

 encroachments this season, and tend greatly to break up the American 

 mackerel fishery in the Saint Lawrence. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 



4, 1853.) 



1853. — Mackerel in western nova scotia. 



The Yarmouth Herald says : " We are glad to hear that mackerel 

 have been abundant at the Tusket Islands during the past week. In 

 two days two seines secured over GOO barrels. Within the last few 

 days a considerable quantity of small mackerel and fat herring have 

 been caught in this harbor." — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 10, 1853.) 



1853. — First arrival from the bay— reported scarcity of 



mackerel. 



The "Leonard McKenzie" arrived at this port on Sunday from the Bay 

 of Saint Lawrence; reports mackerel as not being very plenty, and 

 the vessels were not doing much. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 20, 1853.) 



