REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [336] 



fall fishery will be a failure. The schooner ''Cayenne " is high line of the 

 fleet, and of her fare of 320 barrels sea-packed mackerel, only 45 bar 

 rels were caught within the three-mile limits. The vessel was chartered, 

 and for two months the charter was $450 ; the use of seines and boats 

 was $300 more, and the outfit of provisions, &c, $450; the crew were 

 on shares, but, at the rates paid those hired by the month, their wages 

 would amount to $900; to this add the captain's wages, $150; insur- 

 ance on seines and boats, $30 ; salt used, $140; bait, $162.50; and ex- 

 penses of barrels, packing, &c, $525, and we have a total expense of 

 $3,117.50. The fare packed out 300 barrels, which sold for $2,845, 

 leaving a net loss on the trip of $272.50. With such a record for the high 

 line it will be readily seen that the failure of the majority of the fleet to 

 secure fares will entail a serious loss upon this industry. — (Cape Ann 

 Advertiser, September 7, 1877.) 



1877. — Slim doings of the mackerel fleet. — the high liners. 



The shore mackereling fleet continue in the neighborhood of Cape 

 Cod, meeting with indifferent success, and it becomes more and more 

 apparent that the mackerel stock for 1877 will be the smallest known for 

 years. Scarcely a vessel employed in this business will pay expenses. 

 * * * The schooner "Alice," of Swan's Island, is high line of the 

 mackerel fleet, haviug caught rising 1 ,400 barrels this season. The new 

 schooner " William M. Gaffney " has made the best stock, her catch 

 having realized about $10,000 since she came from the stocks, April 

 16. * * * 



The bay fleet report no catch of consequence since the sale a month ago. 

 The prospect is that many of the vessels will be compelled to come home 

 with very light fares. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 26, 1877.) 



1877. — Unprofitableness of the mackerel fishery in the gulf 

 of saint lawrence from 1873 to 1877. 



The Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery to the Gloucester fleet 

 has been a growing failure for many years, both in the number of ves- 

 sels prosecuting it and in their catch. Exceptional trips have been made 

 at a profit, yet the average vessel has prosecuted it yearly with consid- 

 erable loss. 



In proof of which, take an average bayman for an average season's 

 fishing. Her expense account will average at least $2,600 (without 

 charging interest on vessel and outfits, or for depreciation on hull, or 

 any partial loss not covered by insurance). She must catch 400 barrels 

 of packed mackerel, worth an average price of $13 per barrel, to pay 

 her expenses. Any less number of barrels than 400 would only lessen 

 the amount of her bills by the salt not used. The packing of a less num- 

 ber of barrels and the masters commission on decreased amount of stock, 

 the wear of the sails, rigging, cables, &c, would be the same ; the crew 

 must be fed ; the bait would be used in trying for fish ; so that any one 



