REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [340] 



Monday for an experimental fishing trip on the coast of Norway. Cap- 

 tain Markurson is familiar with the fishing grounds of the North Sea and 

 with our improved methods of mackerel fishing, which ought to give him 

 success in a held where the operations have heretofore been confined to 

 old-time methods. He takes out a crew of twelve experienced men and 

 will doubtless dispose of his catch in European markets. The " Notice" 

 is a fine vessel of 66.50 tons burden, Gloucester built, nine years old, and 

 thoroughly fitted for uiackereling. This voyage is the fulfillment of an 

 old project, which was first broached eighteen years ago, when the mack- 

 erel fishery of New England was at a low ebb, but Captain Markurson 

 is the first to overcome the difficulties surrounding such an undertaking 

 and to make the venture. The present time seems a favorable one for 

 the experiment, and we wish the enterprising master and crew abund- 

 ant success in striking out in this new field of industry. — Cape Ann 

 Advertiser.— (St. John's Chronicle, May 17, 1878.) 



Migrations. — the prospect of mackerel in the bay. — A gen- 

 tleman from Halifax informs us that a pilot of twenty-five years' expe- 

 rience on the Nova Scotian shore, states that he never saw such a 

 large body of lmickerel off that coast as he has seen this season. They 

 w T ere en route for the bay, and there ought to be a good catch there this 

 season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 21, 1878.) 



The bay fleet. — The first installment of the Bay of Saint Law- 

 rence fleet have about completed their preparations, and quite a number 

 of the fleet have already sailed. The prospect for mackerel iu this re- 

 gion is said to be much better than in the last few years, a large body 

 being reported as passing Nova Scotia on their way thither. The fleet 

 will go prepared to fish with either seines or hand-lines, and it is hoped 

 that their efforts to secure large fares will prove successful. — (Cape Ann 

 Bulletin, June 26, 1878.) 



1878. — Notes on the mackerel fisheries in the gulf of saint 

 lawrence, and off the new england coast. 



Late advices from the bay report schooner " Jacob Bacon" high line of 

 the fleet, 225 barrels mackerel, schooner "Batler" coming next with 125 

 barrels, and a few other fares ranging from 40 to 80 barrels. The 

 "Charles Haskell "left the bay after three days' unsuccessful fishing, and 

 picked up a fare of 100 barrels shore tinkers on the way home, where 

 she arrived Monday. The "C. B. Manning" arrived from a shore trip 

 Tuesday with 80 barrels of inferior quality. Schooner "Smuggler" ar- 

 rived yesterday with 130 barrels small mackerel. The only large mack- 

 erel landed here were taken by schooner "Mary Odell" a few days ago,on 

 the Block Island fishing grounds. She brought in a fare of 25 barrels 

 mixed mackerel, of which 15 barrels were extra l's, and sold at a fancy 

 price. The whole number of mackerel arrivals for the week has been 

 9, but there have been no other fares of consequence. — (Cape Ann Ad- 

 vertiser, July 19, 1878.) 



