[289] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHEEY. 



18G6. — The outlook for the bay of saint lawrence fishery. 



The mackerel fishery in the Bay of Saint Lawrence will be quite ex- 

 tensively prosecuted the coming season, notwithstanding the repeal of 

 the reciprocity treaty. From 30 to 40 sail of vessels will be added to 

 the fleet, and although the business will be attended with considerable 

 risk, yet our fishermen are not scared at trifles ; they will keep a sharp 

 lookout for English cruisers and get good trips in spite of them. A few 

 overventuresome ones may get seized, but we believe the most of the 

 fleet will come out all right; strict vigilance will be required, and we 

 think our fishermen will not be caught napping. The mackerel, in the 

 first part of the season, are mostly caught outside of the prescribed 

 limits ; but it is in the fall of the year, when the fish play in round shore, 

 that most of the difficulty is apprehended. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 

 April 13, 18G6.) 



186G. — The spring fishery. 



Quite a large fleet of vessels from this port are now engaged in the 

 menhaden and early shore mackerel fishing, and are meeting with fair 

 success. The early bay mackerel fishery will be quite extensively pros- 

 ecuted, and the fleet will sail earlier than last season. Several vessels 

 are now fitting away and will leave the latter part of this month. No 

 serious trouble is apprehended from the provincials. — (Cape Ann Ad- 

 vertiser, May 18, 1866.) 



1866. — First start of the bay fleet. 



The first of the bay fleet sailed on Tuesday and others will soon follow. 

 It is about three weeks earlier than they started last season. — (Cape 

 Ann Advertiser, May 25, 1866.) 



Considerable activity now prevails at our wharves in fitting out ves- 

 sels for the bay. Having finished their George's fishing they are now 

 discharging their ballast and having a general overhauling and painting 

 up, which usually occupies about a fortnight. With the new vessels 

 added to the fleet the present season we shall have about 400 sail in the 

 business (from Gloucester) — the largest number that ever sailed from 

 here. A few of the vessels have already left, and by the last of this 

 month we shall have quite a large fleet in the bay. Some of the vessels 

 will probably make three trips if they are fortunate enough to find mack- 

 erel plenty and are not molested by English cruisers. — (Cape Ann Ad- 

 vertiser, June 8, 1866.) 



1866. — The southern fleet. 



A mackerel fleet of a hundred vessels, with a thousand men, rendez- 

 voused in the harbor of Newport, R. I., last Friday. — (Cape Ann Ad- 

 vertiser, June 1, 1866.) 



