GO 



ments. Weeks ma} T elapse without the discovery of the fish school- 

 ing on the surface with the proper conditions for their capture. Im- 

 mense hauls, however, are sometimes made, more than can be prop- 

 erly dressed by the crew of the " seiner," and if no other vessel is in 

 the vicinity to accept of a portion of the catch, large quantities are 

 frequently thrown SLWSLJ through sheer inability to handle them. 

 The seining of mackerel occasions a great destruction of immature 

 fish, unfit for use, but such is the prolific character of the mackerel 

 that it has never been clearl}* demonstrated that this method of fish- 

 ing has a tendenc} 7 seriously to diminish the supply. The cost of a 



MODEL OF MACKEREL CATCHER OF 1S76. 



mackerel vessel, fitted for sea, is in the neighborhood of $7700 ; a 

 200 fathom seine, of a depth of 30 fathoms, will cost $900 additional, 

 and a seine boat and dories $300 more ; salt, bait, lines, etc., and 

 the necessaiy provisions for a five weeks' trip make the total cost, 

 when ready for a fishing voyage, $9325. The Bay St. Lawrence 

 mackerel fishen*, once of considerable proportions, has declined 

 largely of late years. The seining of mackerel is found impracticable 

 in this fishery, owing to the rocky bottom in the waters where it is 

 followed, and the consequent destruction of seines. The number of 

 Gloucester vessels finding employment in the mackerel fishery in 

 1875 was 180. Of these, 93 made Southern trips, 117 fished off 

 shore, and 58 visited the Bay St. Lawrence. 618 fares were re- 

 ceived, 133 from the South, 425 from off shore, and 60 from the Bay. 



