[337] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



can estimate the loss to an average vessel whose catch or its value varies 

 from the above estimate. 



Of 19 firms, including those that have been most successful in the Bay 

 of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery, with 81 vessels employed in that 

 fishery in 1873, their average catch was 1283 barrels to each vessel. In 

 1874, with 4G vessels, 358 barrels was the average; in 1875, with 20 ves- 

 sels, 195 barrels was the average; in 187G, with 17 vessels, 124 barrels 

 was the average; in 1877, induced by the encouraging reports sent from 

 the Straits of Canso and other places, the ileet to the bay from tbe same 

 firms was increased to 28 vessels, with still more disastrous results, the 

 catch of those that have arrived or been heard from being far below 

 that of last year, proving now to a certainty that the prosecution of the 

 mackerel fishery in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by American vessels is 

 a complete and utter failure. 



The same firms, during the above years, with 55 vessels employed on 

 the American shore, in 1873 averaged a catch of 350 packed barrels of 

 mackerel each ; in 1871, 63 vessels averaged 551 barrels ; in 1875, 51 ves- 

 sels averaged 3S1 barrels ; iu 187(1, 57 vessels averaged 071 barrels. — 

 (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 2, 1877.) 



1877. — Large schools of mackerel seen off the new England 



coast. 



The largest school Captain Harding ever surrounded and kept with 

 his seine amounted to 300 barrels. In 1877 he lost a school off York, 

 Me., which filled his net full. He saw a school off Block Island in 1877 

 wmich he estimated to contain 1,000,000 barrels. He could see only one 

 edge of it at a time. 



1877. — Mackerel fishery in cape cod bay". 



Mackerel struck last week in unusual abundance. The like has not 

 been known for years. The day will be remembered as " mackerel 

 day" for a good many years. — (Proviucetown Banner, July 18, 1877.) 



1878. — Mackerel fishery of new England. 



Mackerel fishery. — The Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery 

 by the American fleet opened last year June 7, when the first vessel ar- 

 rived, and closed November 30, when the last vessel sailed for home. 

 The whole number of vessels in the bay was 273, of which 125 or 42| 

 per cent, were from Gloucester. Wellfleet sent 29 ; Portland 15; Bos- 

 ton 21; Booth Bay 12; Newburyport 10; Swan's Island 8; Province- 

 town 8; Boekport, Deer Isle, North Haven, Southport, and Bremen, 5 

 each; Camden and Cohasset, 3 each; Salem, Rockland, and Dennis 

 Port, 2 each; Dauversport, Essex, Harwich, Brooklin, Orleans, Truro, 

 Belfast, Sedgwick, Hingham, Swampscott, Portsmouth, Vinalhaven, 

 New London, Bristol, and Perth Amboy, 1 each. Of the Gloucester 

 fleet, 118 vessels are reported to have taken 28,817 barrels. Of these 



