[257] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



quite well. A curious thing, however, in connection with the shore- 

 fishery that year was, that while mackerel could be caught to a consid- 

 erable extent close into the shores of the out-lying islands and around 

 the ledges, but comparatively few could be taken farther out to sea. 

 The consequence was that many of the vessels were provided with boats 

 in which the fish were caught. This was especially the case with those 

 fishing round Monhegau Island, where a small fleet of vessels lay in 

 the harbor, and the crews went out in boats round the island, catching 

 the mackerel close into the rocks. The vessel I was in was one of this 

 fleet. On several occasions we found excellent good fishing in our 

 boats, frequently not more than a stone's throw from the surf on the 

 shore. 



1853. — Success of the spring mackerel fishery on the coast 

 of the united states. 



Several mackerel catchers have returned to Provincetown to pack, 

 with liberal success. A large quantity of mackerel have been caught 

 in and about the harbor in nets — prospect for fishing remarkably good. — 

 (Barnstable Patriot, May 31, 1853.) 



1853. — Newburyport vessels in the GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE. 



The Newburyport Herald, of Friday a. m., has a letter dated Cascum- 

 peque, Prince Edward Island, September 15, which says : 



"It is blowing a gale from the northeast, and this harbor is full of 

 vessels, say 120 sail. Hereby I send you a memorandum of New bury - 

 port vessels and their catch of fish. These vessels aie all here in the 

 harbor: 'Gentile,' 230 barrels; 'Paragon,' 100; 'Arctic,' 100; 'Equa- 

 tor,' 130; 'Lydia,' 370; 'Palm,' GO; 'M. C. Ames,' 20; 'Angelia,' 70; 

 'Ada,' 12; there is quite a fleet near Gaspe and some at East Point. As 

 a general thing the fleet has been unfortunate." — (Barnstable Patriot, 

 October 4, 1853.) 



1854. — Abundance of mackerel on the new England coast. 



Mackerel were unusually plenty on the coast this year. Old fisher- 

 men declared them to be more so than at any other time within twenty- 

 five years. Considerable quantities were taken from the wharves in 

 Lynn. — (History of Lynn, Lewis & Newhall, p. 430.) 



Mackerel. — We learn from the Salem Registerthat mackerel continue 

 abundant in the waters near the city. On Tuesday week, a leviathan of 

 the mackerel species, three pounds in weight, was caught near Black 

 Bock, and on the same day two others weighing five pounds each, were 

 captured off Tompkins Island. 



A correspondent of the Herald says that mackerel had made their 

 appearance in great numbers during the past week at Danversport, and 

 they have been caught by the bushel from the wharves and boats. — 

 (Barnstable Patriot, August 8, 1854.) 



