REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [314] 



1 fisli selling for $22.50 per barrel. After packing out our bay trip we 

 engaged in the mackerel fishery off the New England coast, fishing all 

 the way from Mount Desert Rock to Cape Cod, though we caught but 

 few mackerel east of Monhegan. The fish off our own shore in 1870 

 were of medium size, the greater portion packing for No. 2's. Mackerel 

 were abundant, but did not seem inclined to take the hook very readily 

 until they began moving to the westward along the coast toward Cape 

 Ann and Cape Cod. Good catches were obtained off Boone Island, Ips- 

 wich Bay, and in Massachusetts and Barnstable Bays. We made two 

 trips off sbore, securing a catch of about 300 barrels. 



1870. — The mackerel fishery of the saint lawrence. — hostil- 

 ities OF CANADIANS CAUSES LOSS TO AMERICAN VESSELS. 



The following extract from the Gloucester Telegraph shows the con- 

 dition of the Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery during the year 

 1870 : 



"The Bay of Saint Lawrence mackereliug season has closed, and the 

 ill success of this branch of our industry is apparent at a glance. The 

 hostile attitude of the Dominion Government bad a tendency to deter 

 many vessels from engaging in this fishing, so that the early fleet in the 

 hay was quite small, and the success of the shore fleet later in the sea- 

 son tended to still further decrease the number of vessels engaging in 

 the bay fishery, so that our fleet was smaller than for many years. The 

 whole number of vessels reported as making bay trips this year is but 

 80, only three of which made two trips each, and none were allowed to 

 ship mackerel home; whereas, last year, there were 191 vessels employed 

 in the bay fishery, 21 making two trips, and 33 shipping their early trip 

 home, and refitting in the provincial ports. 



'•Four Gloucester vessels were seized this season by the Canadian 

 authorities on the pretense of unlawful fishing; one of these was re- 

 leased under a bond to pay whatever damages were found by the courts ; 

 one was condemned and repurchased by her owners at a cost of nearly 

 83,000, and two remain in the hands of the provincials." — (Gloucester 

 Telegraph, November 10, 1870.) 



1871. — Lack of interest in the mackerel fishery exhibited by 

 canadian fishermen. 



Mackerel Fishery. — Gaspe division. 



"In a special report on the duties performed by 'La Canadienne' in 

 connection with the marine police, I shall have the honor of speaking 

 of mackerel fishing by foreign schooners. This pursuit is not much fol- 

 lowed by our own fishermen, ana has steadily decreased since 1809. 

 The fish did not come near the shores, and not more than 100 barrels 

 were caught in Bay des Chaleurs. It was more abundant in Gaspe 

 Bay, the catch being 400 barrels over that of last year. Cod-fishing is 

 the main occupation of the people in this division. This fish was so 



