14 THE IMPORTANCE OF 



which now in some measure give a stimulus to in- 

 creased exertion to extend this lucrative branch of 

 our commercial pursuits. 



Another branch of our fisheries which has grown 

 up within a few years is deserving consideration, 

 as an object of great importance to the State and 

 nation, viz : the Mackerel Fishery. This busi- 

 nes was, as before stated, pursued to some extent 

 in the early settlement of the country, but the 

 whole annual profit of the fishery of Cape Cod, 

 when its proceeds were appropriated for the sup- 

 port of a free grammar school, was but from 30 

 to 40 annually. This fishery included Macker- 

 el, bass, and herring. It appears from the histor- 

 ical collections, that mackerel were first taken in 

 any considerable quantities in seines by moonlight. 

 This method is supposed to have been first adopt- 

 ed by Mr Isaac Allerton and his associates, at 

 Nantasket, as early as 1626.* Fishing by torch- 

 light is common on the St Lawrence. The scene 

 as witnessed from the banks of that broad and 

 beautiful expanse of water, is described as almost 

 of a fairy nature. The flashing of the lights upon 



* " 1671 John Prince and Nathaniel Bosworth, of Hull, 

 petition the General Court of Plymouth for liberty to fish at 

 Cape Cod for Mackerel, they having discovered a method of 

 fishing with nets by moon-light." Thacher's History of 

 Plymouth." 



