[319] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY.- 



having already landed good fares. American vessels are subject to the 

 same treatment as last year, if caught fishing within the limits ; but 

 they have liberty to shirj mackerel home, and purchase supplies this 

 season, which will greatly add to their chances of making a good year's 

 work. 



" The skippers will undoubtedly keep a sharp lookout and give the 

 Dominion cruisers a wide berth, and we do not anticipate any difficulty 

 in those waters at present. Later in the season, when the mackerel 

 tend in shore, it may be a little more difficult to obtain a fare, but we 

 do not believe that the Dominion cruisers intend to annoy American 

 fishern^en in the tnauner*whieh characterized last season. 



"The treaty has not been signed by the Dominion Government as 

 yet, consequently it will not take effect this season. It is evident that 

 the price of mackerel will not rule as high as last year, which will tend 

 to bring about quick sales, as people can afford to eat these fish when 

 the price is brought within their means, and the prospect for a lively 

 market is quite encouraging. 



"Altogether, the mackerel season, both off shore and at the bay, prom 

 ises well, and we hope that good trips will crown the efforts of all en- 

 gaged in this branch of the fisheries." — (Boston Journal, July 29.) 



1871. — BEMINISCENCES OF CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 



I was engaged in the halibut fishery during- the season of 1871 until 

 August, when I fitted out for a mackerel cruise off the New England 

 coast, still being the same vessel in which I had sailed the previous 

 season. The mackerel were comparatively scarce in the fall off shore 

 and disinclined to bite. We succeeded, however, in catching 175 bar- 

 rels with hook and line, which was much better than the average for 

 the time we were engaged. The last two days' fishing which we had 

 were off Chatham. The first of the two days we caught 50 barrels be- 

 tween Nausett and Chatham, and the following day we obtained 30 

 wash-barrels more about 15 or 20 miles ESB. from Chatham Light. The 

 fish at that time moved very rapidly in a southerly direction. 



Many of the seiners obtained large catches during the fall, but as we 

 were fishing with hook and line it frequently happened that we could 

 get few or no mackerel, even where they were most abundant, and the 

 seiners were filling up. 



1872. — Good luck of some of the market fishermen. 



On Friday of last week the schooner " Yankee Lass," Captain Brown, 

 took 60 barrels of mackerel off the Highlands of Cape Cod, and sold 

 them in Boston the next day for $1,500. A few weeks before the same 

 vessel sold $1,200 worth, which she caught in a single" day. Another 

 vessel made $2,520 in a couple of days. In all these cases the market 

 was bare of mackerel, and hence the high prices obtained. The fore- 



