REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [274] 



the book very readily ; largest haul is 160 bbls. brought in by the " Electric 

 Flash," all caught on the hook in about ten days. Glad of the luck, be- 

 cause for many years they have done poorly. Baj* fleet advices report 

 mackerel scarce. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 10, 1800). 



1860. — Arrivals from the bay and shore fleets. 



Eighteen vessels arrived from the bay during the past week, bringing 

 in 1,743 barrels to a vessel, averaging 97 barrels to each vessel ; 12 of 

 shore fleet arrived with 1,305 barrels — 108 barrels to a vessel. From 

 the bay 9,000 barrels less this year than last. Many have not paid their 

 outfit bills. Shore fleet have done a little better, but not first rate. 



Quite a number of the Cape Cod mackerel fleet in the harbor yes- 

 terday ; brisk trade retailing mackerel at 5 cts. lb. — (Cape Ann Adver- 

 tiser, September 14, 1860). 



1860. — Arrival of some of the bay fleet. 



Since our last 12 vessels have arrived from the bay with an aggregate 

 of 1,377 barrels of mackerel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 24, 1860.) 



1860. — Good catch of a cohasset hooker off the new Eng- 

 land coast. 



Schooner " Harriet Torrey," of Cohasset, caught 1,500 barrels of mack- 

 erel in 1800. Wra. Berdick, of Cohasset, caught 137 barrels with his 

 own hook, which will clear, above expenses, $548. Shore fleet have all 

 done well. Bay fleet have done poorly. — (Contemporary record.) 



1860. — BEMINISCENCES OF CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 



In July, 1860, after returning home from a cod-fishing trip to Cape 

 North I went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on a mackerel cruise, in 

 the schooner " Ocean Traveller" of Gloucester. Leaving home about the 

 1st of July, we passed through the Strait of Canso on the 5th, passed 

 up along the north side of Prince Edward Island ; along the west shore, 

 crossed Bank Orphan, fished around Bonaventure, and up by Cape 

 Gaspe and Cape Rozier without finding mackerel enough to induce us 

 to remain in any one place, though we tried frequently on our way. In 

 the cove at Cape Bozier we anchored, with a number of other vessels, 

 and succeeded in catching 21 barrels at a spring in three or four days, 

 getting a few mackerel each morning and evening. Influenced by the 

 success which had been met with by several vessels the previous year 

 along the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence we, as well as many 

 others of the mackerel catchers, went there fitted for inshore fishing, 

 taking along with us four or five dories in addition to our yawl-boat 

 which was carried at the stern. Leaving Cape Rozier, where the mack- 

 erel had ceased taking the hook, we ran up around the coast to Magdalen 

 Biver, where we stopped and tried for mackerel. We continued to cruise 



