£331] HISTORY OP" THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



1870 TO 1870, INCLUSIVE. — THE MACKEREL FISHERIES OF PROVINCE- 

 TOWN, MASS. 



"Going back to 1870, we had that year 41 vessels engaged in mack- 

 erel fishing, not one of which went into the Gulf. They all fished on 

 our coast. The aggregate quantity of mackerel which they all packed 

 was 37,552 barrels. In 1871 we had still 41 vessels, which still continued 

 to fish on our coast, having done pretty well there the year before. 

 None went to the Gulf. The aggregate catch which these vessels packed 

 amounted to 24,918 barrels. In 1872 we had 36 vessels, of which 3 went 

 to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, leaving 33 fishing on our own coast. 

 These 30 vessels packed out 16,303 barrels, and the 3 vessels which 

 went to the Gulf packed out 785 barrels, making an average per vessel 

 of 201^ barrels. 



"In 1873, when the Washington treaty went into effect, as we in- 

 tended going to the bay, having now no fear of the cutters, we enlarged 

 our bay fleet, and so 6 went there that year instead of 3. Two of these 

 6, or one-third of them, were lost in the gale in which so many vessels 

 were lost. The vessels lost were the schooner " Helen M. Woodward," 

 off the Magdalen Islands — the vessel was a total loss — and the "Carrie 

 P. Rich," off North Cape, Prince Edward Island ; vessel and crew total 

 loss. 



"The latter went to the bay early in the year, and she had shipped 

 some mackerel home before the gale took place. She was lost, with all 

 she had on board. The whole catch of these six vessels that year was 

 845 barrels. In 1873 we had 38 vessels, and their total catch was 15,772 

 barrels, including the 845 barrels mentioned. In 1874 we had 35 ves- 

 sels engaged in the mackerel fishery, and they packed out 23,098 bar- 

 rels. Three vessels went to the Gulf, bringing home 590 barrels, which 

 are included in the total catch of the 35 vessels, 23,098. In 1875 we 

 had 37 vessels, which packed out 10,013 barrels. Two of them went to 

 the Gulf, and they brought home 270 barrels, which are included in the 

 gross amount stated. 



"In 1876 we had 32 vessels, whose total catch was 16,150 barrels. Two 

 of them went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, bringing home 202 barrels, 

 which are included in the 16,150. These totals make a grand total of 

 144,406 barrels, of which 2,692 were caught in the Gulf of Saint Law- 

 rence in 16 voyages during the several years I have named. The aver- 

 age catch of these vessels since 1872, and since the fishery clause of the 

 Washington treaty went into effect, was 146 J barrels per vessel, and 

 prior to that the average was 261^- barrels per vessel, in the Gulf of 

 Saint Lawrence." — (Statement of Captain Atwood before the Halifax 

 Commission.) 



1876. — The southern fleet. 



About 90 Gloucester and Cape Cod schooners, employed in the mack- 

 erel fishery, were reported off Lewes, Del., on Thursday of last week. — 

 {Cape Ann Advertiser, May 12, 1876.) 



