REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [308] 



by steamer and refitted in the bay for another trip in order to save time, 

 and the prospect for the fall catch is considered very good. A large 

 portion of the fleet went into the bay late in July, and will make but 

 one trip. The shore fleet' are doing fairly of late, and the mackereling 

 season bids fair to be a successful one. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, Septem- 

 ber 10, 1869.) 



18G9. — High line of the bay fleet. 



Schooner " Finance," of this port, has recently landed her second fare 

 of mackerel, 250 barrels, at Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), mak- 

 ing in all 510 barrels landed thus far. On her last trip she took 130 

 wash-barrels in one day. She is now out on her third trip, and bids fair 

 to make a great season's work. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 11, 

 1869.) 



1869. — Success of the wellfleet schooners. 



The mackerel catchers of Wellfleet have done remarably well. Six- 

 teen thousand barrels have been landed on the wharves, and 3,500 bar- 

 rels are now afloat. — (Ibid.) 



1809. — The baymen. 



Seven of the bay fleet have arrived since our las,t issue, bringing 

 about 1,700 barrels of mackerel. — (Ibid.) 



1869. — Great disaster to the shore mackerel fleet. 



A terrific hurricane swept the coast of New England on the 8th of 

 September, causing great loss of life and property in the mackerel fleet. 

 The gale came on so suddeulj- and unexpectedly that the vessels were 

 not able to reacli a harbor in time to escape its fury, and being caught 

 on a lee shore many of them were driven ashore. The Cape Ann Ad- 

 vertiser of September 10 and 17 gives detailed accounts of the losses. 



1869. — Small fall catch in the bay. — light fares brought 



home by baymen. 



The prospect in the bay in the early part of the season for a success- 

 ful catch of mackerel was most excellent, as many of the vessels ob- 

 tained good fares on their arrival there; but the September catch fell 

 off amazingly, and for the past month the vessels have done nothing at 

 all.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 28, 1869.) 



The bay fleet have mostly arrived home, there being but about forty 

 sail now absent. The fares brought in are very light, ranging from 20 

 to 100 barrels, and the market is quite firm at advanced prices. No. l's 

 are selling the present week at $25 per barrel, and No. 2's at $15. 



Shore mackerel are out of the market. The last sales of No. l's were 

 made at $26. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 12, 1869.) 



