YIELDING PROFIT AND SPORT. 



323 



joyable than * whiffing' for mackerel, and the following quotation will show 

 that others are much of the same way of thinking: 



" ' It was evident the bay was full of mackerel ; in every direction, as far 

 as the eye could range, gulls and puffins of the St. Lawrence were collected, 

 and, to judge from their activity and clamor, there appeared ample enjoyment 

 for them amongst the fry beneath. We immediately bore away from the 

 place where the birds were most numerously congregated, and the lines were 

 scarcely overboard when we found ourselves in the centre of a shoal of mack- 

 erel. The hooker, however, had too much way. We lowered the foresail, 

 double reefed the mainsail, and then went steadily to work. Directed by the 

 movements of the birds, we followed the mackerel. Tacking and wearing 

 the boat occasionally when we found we had overrun the shoal, for two hours 

 we killed these beautiful fish as fast as the baits could be renewed and the 

 lines hauled in, and when we left off fishing, actually wearied with the sport, 

 we found we had taken above 500 pounds. There is not, on sea or river, al- 

 ways excepting angling for salmon, any sport comparable to this delightful 

 amusement. Full of life and bustle, every thing about it is animated and ex- 

 hilarating.'" 



Hook-fishing for mackerel is very exciting sport. A brisk 

 breeze, sky mellowed by fleecy clouds, gulls swooping and 

 screaming, every thing apparently in excitement. Under 

 such circumstances and surroundings, it is not strange if the 

 troller, whiffer, or still-baiter should inflate his lungs and 

 feast his sou.1 until the waning sun warns him to desist and 

 retire. 



Excellent sport is sometimes to be had by rowing or scull- 

 ing a boat into a thick shoal, and trolling for them with feath- 

 ered squid, twirling spoon, or casting to them a white artifi- 

 cial fly. 



Statistics of Mackerel Catches in the States of Maine and Massachusetts 

 from 1863 to 1867, and the average wholesale Prices per barrel. 



1 864, Massachusetts 306,000 bbls. $1800 $5,508,00000 



" Maine 100,000 " 18 00 1,800,000.00 



1 8G5, Massachusetts 300,000 " 2100 6,300,00000 



" Maine 90,000 " 21 00 1,890,000 00 



1866, Massachusetts 2,50,000 " 1700 4,250,00000 



" Maine 80,000 " 17 00 1,360,000 00 



1867, Massachusetts '..... 200,000 " 1500 3,000,00000 



Maine 70,000 " 15 00 1,050,000 00 



1,396,000 " $25,158,000 00 



