[321] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



1872.— A BIG TRIP FROM GEORGE'S. 



Schooner u Volunteer," Captain Smith of this port, arrived from 

 George's on Friday with 340 barrels of mackerel, which were seined on 

 the bank. This is the largest fare brought in this season, and the 

 mackerel were all large and fat. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 16, 



1872.) 



1872. — A BIG SCHOOL OF MACKEREL — SUCCESS OF THE SEINERS. 



' Schooner "Judith Ann," of this port, recently came across a big school 

 of mackerel off Thatcher's Island, and had such a heavy draught of 

 them that they were obliged to cut the purse-rope of the seine in order 

 to save it. Out of the lot, estimated at 1,000 barrels, they succeeded 

 in saving only 40 barrels. 



Several of the mackerel seiners had quite a streak o' luck last week, 

 which will very materially help out their season's work. * * * 



Schooner " Isaac Somes," Capt. E. H. Taylor, was absent from Har- 

 wich Port thirty hours, and during that time seined 250 barrels of mack- 

 erel. This is reported as the largest catch in the shortest time this 

 season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 13, 1872.) 



1872. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 



In August, 1872, I went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on a mackerel 

 trip in the " Alice G. Wonson." Mackerel were large though scarce^ 

 and as a result we cruised over nearly the whole of the fishing grounds 

 in the Gulf from Bonaventure to Cape Breton. We did not succeed in 

 obtaining any great catches, neither did we hear of many being taken. 

 However, we secured a fare of 250 barrels of fine mackerel, for which 

 a fair price was obtained, making the voyage, on the whole, a reason- 

 ably profitable one. 



1873. — The passage of the fisheries bill — anticipation of its 

 being injurious to american fishermen. 



The bill to carry into effect the fishery provisions of the treaty of 

 Washington, passed the House Monday by an unexpectedly strong 

 vote, 145 yeas and 30 nays. The only amendment, which was offered 

 by Mr. Buffinton, delays the date on which the duties on fish from 

 the provinces are removed until July 1, and was agreed to both by the 

 Committee on Foreign Affairs and by the State Department. General 

 Butler opposed it, and denounced the treaty as very unfair to the United 

 States. President Grant sent a special message to the Senate and 

 House, in which he urged the passage of the bill. It will go into effect 

 July 1. There are grave apprehensions that we have paid dearly for 

 the whistle in the admission of foreign fish duty free ; and the provinc- 

 ial fishermen have thus obtained great advantages over the American, 

 both on the lakes and sea-coast. Be that as it may, there is no help for 



