[335] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



1877. — Doings of the shore fleet. — small catch. 



The Boston Fish Bureau reports the catch of the shore fleet to Au- 

 gust 1 at 34,657 barrels, against 113,246 barrels at the same time last 

 year. The July catch was 6,614 barrels, against 81,193 in July, 1876. 

 The reports from the fleet continue unfavorable, nothing being done 

 excej>t in the neighborhood of Block Island. The vessels there are re- 

 ported with fares ranging from 25 to 160 barrels each. The schooner 

 "Alice," of Boston, arrived at that port Wednesday, with 170 barrels large 

 mackerel, caught off Block Island, the result of four weeks' fishing. — 

 (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 3, 1877.) 



1877. — A BIG CATCH OF MACKEREL ON THE NOVA SCOTIA SHORE. 



The Halifax Herald reports a mackerel strike in the vicinity of that 

 city. At Tom's Bay the boats landed over 300 barrels, which will aver- 

 age No. 2. At Upper Prospect the catch averaged from 30 to 300 bar- 

 rels to a seine, over 1,000 barrels being taken the first day after the 

 fish struck in. The reports from all the coves in the vicinity were en- 

 couraging. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 17, 1877.) 



1877. — Small catches of the mackerelmen. 



The prospects of the mackerel fleet do not brighten. Out of 18 ar- 

 rivals from off shore the past week the only fares worth mentioning are 

 125 barrels in the "Argonaut," caught off Block Island, and 75 barrels 

 in the " Volunteer," the rest of the fleet realizing less on a two or three 

 weeks' trip than is often the result of a half hour's good fishing. The news 

 from the bay is not of an encouraging character. There have been six 

 arrivals at this port to date this season, with an average of about 200 

 barrels each, which does not give the prospect for the rest of the fleet 

 a flattering aspect. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 31, 1877.) 



1877. — Failure of the bay' mackerel fishery. — the fare of 

 the high line of the bay* fleet cost more than it came 



TO. 



Recent arrivals from the Bay of Saint Lawrence report the mackerel 

 fishery a failure there, as well as on our own shores, and some of the 

 vessels had not seen a mackerel for a fortnight before leaving the bay. 

 The vessels already arrived, representing the portion of the fleet meet- 

 ing with the best success, report an average catch of 183 barrels, which 

 would not be more than half a fare in ordinary seasons, and will not 

 pay the expenses of the voyage, even at the present high prices. Un- 

 less the majority of the fleet still remaining in the bay find better fish- 

 ing this month, which is not deemed probable, most of the vessels will 

 be obliged to return empty, and the mackerel fishery will prove a 

 lamentable failure this season. 



The masters of the vessels returning from the Bay of Saint Lawrence 

 agree in the opinion that the mackerel have left the bay, and that the 



