[341] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



The bay fleet. — The schooner "Jacob Bacon" of this port, Capt. 

 William Gray, employed in the Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery, 

 has shipped home by steamer to Boston, from Port Hawkesbnry, 222 

 barrels good mackerel. A few other vessels are reported with fares 

 from 200 to 300 barrels, of good quality, and the prospect is considered 

 more favorable than heretofore this season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 

 July 26, 1S78.) 



Schooner "Golden Hind" arrived from a Bay Saint Lawrence trip on 

 Wednesday, being the second arrival of the season, but there are oth- 

 ers on the way, to arrive in a day or two, The later reports from the 

 bay indicate an improvement in quality and catch, and it is not too late 

 to hope for profitable returns before the season closes. The weather has 

 been rough of late, and unfavorable for fishing, but some good fares are 

 reported. The " Golden Hind " brought 280 barrels mackerel, 100 barrels 

 of which were taken at one haul of the seine off North Cape. 



The shore mackerel fleet continue to meet with ill success, and there 

 is little hope for improvement until the mackerel turn southward in the 

 fall. The number of arrivals the past week has been 12 and the receipts 

 some 500 barrels. There is a fair stock on the market, but the call for 

 inferior grades is light. 



1878. — Movements of the fishing flhet. 



Schooner " David F. Low," Captain Chisholm, arrived home from the 

 Bay of Saint Lawrence on Wednesday, with a fare of 200 barrels good 

 mackerel, being the first arrival and first receipts of bay mackerel 

 at this port this season. Two other vessels fitted for the bay arrived 

 home before the " Low," but neither of them stopped to make a trip, 

 although one secured 19 barrels before leaving to make up a fare of 

 shore mackerel on the way home. One fare of bay mackerel was re- 

 ceived at Boston, last week, by steamer, sent home by schooner "Jacob 

 Bacon," and sold without culling or packing, averaging about 187 

 pounds to the sea barrel, at $9 per barrel, which would be equivalent 

 to about $11 packed. The first arrival at this port from the bay, last 

 year, was the schooner " Eastern Queen," August 15. 



The shore mackerel fleet have abandoued the Block Island grounds, 

 having made a much smaller catch there than last year. There were 

 some sixty sail engaged in the business, and most of them secured from 

 3 to 20 barrels of extra large mackerel, which brought about $26 the 

 barrel. The fleet continue to bring in moderate fares of tinker mack- 

 erel, and there are about 1,000 barrels on the market, for which there is 

 little demand. Number of shore arrivals the past week, 12 ; receipts, 

 1,550 barrels. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 2, 1878.) 



The arrivals for the past week have given a more hopeful aspect 

 to the fishing outlook, and our wharves have preseuted the busy ap- 

 pearance which characterized them in more prosperous season. The 

 arrivals have not been numerous, numbering 56 in all, but some 



