185 



it in vain in eveiy American sea; at others, it is so voracious as to leap 

 from the water when hnvd by a. red rat?, or attracted by flies ;ind other 

 insects. Some fishermen entertain very strange conceits with regard 

 to it, and aver that "it knows as much as a man." Under ordinaiy 

 circumstances, our vessels pursue it north and cast, as the season ad- 

 vances; "make fares" in the Bay of Fundy in July and August; in 

 the ]i;iy Chnleurs in v>eptember; and sometimes in the latter bay and 

 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the month of October. More fr(Y|U(ntly, 

 however, they are following it on its return west and south, belbre the 

 equinoctial gale. 



Of the fishery in the waters of New England there is mention, as 

 we have seen — incident.illv — in the earliest records. The visits ot the 

 vast scools occurred, probably, at intervals, as at present. Winthiop 



westward of South Seal island ; they appeared to be comiug from Cape Cod, until nearly over 

 to the Cape. Their course may occasionally vary in consequence of strong southerly and 

 northerly winds ; they generally fall in on the coast to the westward a few days before they do 

 at Cansi) and Cape Breton. The chief places for netting and seining mackerel in the spring 

 are the Tusket island*, the west side of Cape Sable, east side of Margaret's bay, Little 

 Harbor, ^\^lite Head, St. Peter's in Cape Breton, Antigonish, and several other j)luces. As 

 there is no doubt but that the mackerel are bound to the Bay Chaleurs for the purpose of 

 spawning, it would lead us to believe that when one fisli is taken with the net or seine, thousands 

 are destroyed which would otherwise likely come to maturity. Could the practice of taking 

 the fish with their spawn be abolished, it is likely they would be much more abundant. The 

 mackerel, after passiug the south coast of Nova Scotia, proceed to the northward, through the 

 Straits of Canso, and to the eastward of Cape Breton, making their way northwardly until they 

 are up with Shippegan, Bradelle Bank, Gaspe, Seven Islands. tScc. After having spawned, 

 they continue about those places as their feeding ground, there being large quantities of lauta 

 there, whi<-h they feed upon, and consequently become fat. 



"As the season advances, about the month of October the fish begin to make their way to 

 tJie southward, and continue to do so until the latter part of November. The practice of taking 

 mackerel with the hook and line has not been long in operation in Nova Scotia, and I believe 

 there never has been a voyage made with the hook and line on the southern coast of Nova 

 Scotia except at Sable i.sland, where there have been some good voyages made. The fish which 

 resort here are of a difterent quality from those which go to the Bay de Chaleurs, being much 

 larger and fatter. In 1850 the fish were plenty and took the hook well, but in lf;5] the fish 

 ai)peared at times to be abundant, but would not take the hook. Mackerel here feed in 

 shallow water, within the bars or shoal edges of sand which extend in difierent ])hices near the 

 i.sland. The vessels, when employed in the niiickerel fishery here, lie at anchor in about six 

 or seven fathoms water, and I am informed that mackerel have been discovered from the mast- 

 heads of these vessels, lying within the ridges of sand. They are chiefly taken in boats or 

 flats, which go over the ridges, wlien they sometimes appear to be lying on the bottom. Was 

 there a light-house erected on the northwest end of the island, I think it would be of great 

 service to those who tend the mackerel fishery, as they often have to cross the northwest bar 

 when they cannot ascertain the distance from the island. As the season advances the weather 

 becomes changeable, and the bars being dangerous to cross in rough weather, our vessels 

 mostly leave after the last of September. The American vt>ssels which fit out for the hook 

 fisheries are of a superior class to those in Nova Scotia. Their toiniagt; is generally from sixty 

 to one hundred and thirty tons, very shiirp built, well fitted in every respect; those they term 

 the Sliarp-shooters are very superior sailing vessels. This enables them to reaeii the fishing 

 ground and j)rocure their cargo while those of Nova Scotia are actually ciirrying sail to reach 

 the fishing ground. Those vessels are likewise well uuinned, carrying from twelve to twenty- 

 four men ; nuiking an avenige, probtibly, of about fifteen or sixt<'en men to each vessel. In 

 l"(r>l I was informed there were about tmc, thousand sail of Amei-ican vessels, Hhich, with an 

 average of fifteen men, would give fifteen thousand. Souk- of tliese vessels, I heard, made 

 three tri[)s in (Jhaleurs btiy for mackerel. Some, after having made one or two trii)s or fares 

 of codfish, |)roceed to the I5ay Chideurs, well fitted, taking sutlicieiit barrels to cure tlieir fish 

 in. These are partly filled with iiieuliiKlen and (•Iniiis, which are considered the iiest bait fiir 

 mackerel; others are filled with Kalt iJiid water, which niiike ballast. When required for use, 

 they are emptied of their coiileni.s and filled witli mackerel; this keeps their \essels in good 

 ballast. 'J'liey generally commence their fisiiing ahmit liradelle Bank, Shijqiegan, and follow 

 the fish Dortlierly, until llie season advances, when they return to the north side of i'riuce 

 Edward Island, and Cape Breton." 



