[287] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



freighting the mackerel home and the bad condition in which most of 

 them were in on their arrival here materially lessened the profits of 

 the voyage. Fat mackerel have not yet made, their appearance in the 

 bay. The shore fleet are doing moderately well, and the mackerel are- 

 of much better quality than those brought from the bay.— (Cape Ann 

 Advertiser, August 4, 1SG5.) Twenty-four hundred and three barrels 

 of mackerel have arrived here from the bay this week, having been 

 freighted home. They have found a ready market. — (Cape Ann Adver- 

 tiser, September 29, 1S65.) 



The bay fleet have come home along quite freely the present week, 

 some hundred sail having arrived in port, and the balance are now on 

 their way home. Although the weather of late has been such that but 

 few mackerel have been caught, yet the fleet, on the whole, will make 

 very good trips, and the season wind up prosperously for those engaged 

 in the business. Mackerel are now selling at very fair prices (No. 1 at 

 $16.50, No. 2, $13.50), and the prospect is that they will advance rather 

 than decline. The shore fleet have not done much of late, but they may 

 have a streak of luck yet if the weather continues favorable. — (Cape 

 Ann Advertiser, November 3, 1865.) 



The baymen have all arrived home, the last of the fleet arriving yes- 

 terday. Last year at this time there were 35 sail in the bay, the last 

 vessel arriving as late as the 12th of December. — (Cape Ann Adver- 

 tiser, November 17, 1865.) 



1865. — Abundance of mackerel in ipswich bay. 



A large school of extra fat mackerel have made their appearance in 

 Ipswich Bay, and the fishermen are paying their respects to them in a 

 most complimentary manner. They are real "bloaters," and fetch the 

 highest price. The weather is all that can be desired, and the fisher- 

 men will take every advantage which the season offers. The shore fleet 

 are doing better and the mackerel are working up this way. — (Cape Ann 

 Advertiser, October 6, 1865.) 



1865.— Eeminiscences of capt. j. w. COLLINS. 



The year of 1865 was another remarkable season in the mackerel 

 fishery of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and in this respect it almost 

 rivaled the previous year. About the middle of June I sailed for the 

 bay in the schooner "Mary Ellen," hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, 

 but owned in the eastern part of the province. We caught three 

 fares of mackerel during the summer, making a total of above 900 

 barrels. The fish during the early part of the year were, as usual, 

 found most plentiful about the North Cape of Prince Edward Island, 

 along the west shore and on Bank Bradley. I recall one occasion, while 

 lying becalmed between North Cape and Point Escuminac, of seeing a 



