REPORT. OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [320] 



going fares were sold fresh without dressing. — (Gloucester Telegraph, 

 October 12, 1872.) 



1872. — Mackerel fishery of provincetown. 



The Provincetown mackerel fleet, in the early part of last week, after 

 a trial of two days without finding mackerel, broke in small squadrons 

 and sought their home ports to haul up, or to engage in other pursuits. 

 It has hovered around Provincetown, and been in the harbor since 

 August, taking but few fish. Inquiry at the packing establishments 

 discloses the fact that the entire catch of that part of the fleet hailing 

 kfrom Provincetown will not much exceed 12,000 barrels. In 3£>70 the 

 catch packed 37,552 barrels, and in 1871 it was 24,918 barrels. From 

 information received, the opinion prevails that the falling off in the 

 catch of the whole fleet will not be less than that part of it sailing from 

 Provincetown. A very few vessels using seines have been successful, 

 but those depending upon the hook and line, constituting much the 

 largest part, will not, as a wdiole, realize a sum sufficient to pay ex- 

 penses.— ^Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph, May 31, 187-4.) 



1872. — Mackerel on the south coast of nova scotia. 



H. S. Jost, esq., overseer for the western district of Lunenburg 

 County, Nova Scotia, reports that mackerel are of abetter quality than 

 those taken in 1871, and have generally been sent to the United States, 

 where a fair price has been obtained for them. The hitherto uncertain 

 fares in the North Bay mackerel fishing has had the effect of causing 

 most of the Nova Scotia vessels' to seek other employments this fall. — 

 (Eeport of W. H. Venning, inspector of fisheries for Nova Scotia and 

 New Brunswick. An. Eep. Mar. and Fish., 1872, Appendix N.) 



1872. — Disinclination of the Canadian fishermen to encage 

 in catching mackerel. 



Mackerel fishing is pursued only to*a very limited extent in Gaspe Bay 

 since the repeal of the reciprocity treaty, the few accidently caught in 

 herring nets being used as bate for cod; and even under reciprocity 

 this kind of fishing was entirely in the hands of Americans, the Gaspe 

 fishermen not catching the fish even for local consumption. For the 

 space of about one month this summer mackerel was very abundant in 

 Gaspe Bay, some catching as many as 1,700 in one day. Mackerel as 

 wed as salmon sold fresh, but prices being low, fishermen consideied 

 it more advantageous to engage solely in the more remunerative pur- 

 suit of cod-fishing. During September and October prices ruled higher, 

 but mackerel had then left the bay. — (Report of N. Lavoie, commander 

 of government 'schooner " La Canadienne," in a cruise in the River and 

 Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 1872. An. Rep. Mar. and Fish. 1872, Ap- 

 pendix B.) 



