[2g9] history of the mackerel fishery. 



1859. — Advantages of gill-netting. 



Habits of fish. — Mackerel fishermen once found fish inclined to take 

 the hook, as blueflsk, by trawling. Late years they take the hook as 

 soon as it is thrown into the water, and a vessel needs hut a few hours 

 for a full supply if they will " bite." Now it would seem that the water 

 may be full of them and not one of them can be taken by the hook. At 

 the present, in Provincetown Harbor, none are taken by the hook, while 

 the whole harbor is crowded full of them. The introduction of nets has 

 been a great gain in the way of taking them, and it is predicted by some 

 that mackerel will soon be taken upon this coast only by nets. How- 

 ever this may be, it would seem that a change of mackerel would render 

 it desirable that there should be the corresponding change in the mode 

 of taking them. — (Barnstable Patriot, June 28, 1859.) 



Onr Provincetown neighbors seem to have a special benefit this season. 

 The harbor is crowded full of mackerel, and though they will not take 

 the hook, they are abundantly meshed in the nets which are set for 

 them. Some nights as many as two thousand fish have been taken in 

 the nets of a single man. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 1, 1859.) 



1859. — Fitting away of the bay fleet. — a new feature in 

 the mackerel fishery of tae gulf of saint lawrence. 



Most of our vessels are making preparations for the bay. The pros- 

 pects of a good season's work are very flattering, and the number of ves- 

 sels this season will exceed that of last by a large number. 

 • Some of the mackerel fleet in the bay fishery will take dories this sea- 

 son. This is a new feature, and will doubtless prove an advantageous 

 one. Quite a large fleet of cod fishermen are now fitting lor bay maok- 

 ereling. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 20, 1859.) 



LS59. — TtEPORTED ABUNDANCE OF MACKEREL TN MASSACHUSETTS 

 BAY. — SUCCESS OF THE SOUTHERN FLEET. 



Large schools of fresh mackerel have been reported in Boston Bay 

 the past week. Several of our mackerel catchers have returned from 

 the south with good fares. The fleet at the south has been very small, 

 but those that have been there do rather better than the average of 

 seasons. The largest catch yet landed has been 140 barrels of small 

 mackerel. It will be seen by our market quotations that they bring a 

 good price.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 10, 1859.) 



1859. — Successful use of the purse-seine off cape ann. — 

 schools of mackerel in gloucester harbor. 



Last week large quantities of mackerel were seined by vessels on the 

 north side of the Cape. 



Our harbor has been visited by schools of mackerel the present week, 

 but they do not take to the hook. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 1, 1859.) 



