2440 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



towards the South Shoal light-ship, near Nautucket ; perhaps there 

 may be some at Montauk, bat there are not so many there as down 

 about the light-ship. There is no extra good fishing near Moutauk dur- 

 ing the first part of the season. 



Q. How large a catch have you known to be made there ? A. The 

 schools at this point are generally broken up a great deal. 



Q. You think that the schools break up ? A. Yes. 



Q. llow many barrels have you ever known to be taken there in one 

 day ? A. Perhaps from 20 to 40 barrels. 



Q. What is the next place? A. The next place, where we find large 

 schools, is down about the South Shoal light-ship. 



Q. You have omitted to mention Block Island ? A. Well, we do not 

 find mackerel there to any amount early in the summer. 



Q. llow early do you find them there? A. We find them there in 

 small schools about the same time as oft' Montauk. 



Q. What is the season for fishing at Block Island ? A. Along in 

 midsummer. 



Q. After they have spawned ? A. Yes ; fish have been caught this 

 summer near Moutauk Point. Those are fish that do not come north 

 any farther, but stay at Block Island all summer. 



Q. Give an account of Block Island mackerel-fishing, and state the 

 quality caught, the times when taken, and the quantities of the catches 

 made there. A. They have been taken this year there in very small 

 schools, and as low as 5 barrels in a school, though there have been as 

 high as 200 barrels taken in a school this summer after the 1st of July; 

 there was nothing done before that there of any account. 



Q. How was the fishing last year at Block Island ? A. We did not 

 have any vessels there last summer. One or two vessels went there 

 and staid a short time, and two out of that number got trips. 



Q. What is the quality of Block Island mackerel! A. These fish are 

 commonly large enough and long enough for extra ones. 



Q. By that you mean mess mackerel ? A. Yes. 



Q. What are they sold for ? A. I do not know what price they have 

 brought this summer. We did not mess our mackerel; but probably 

 they will bring from $26 to $27 a barrel. 



Q. Is their price a good deal higher than that of any other mackerel 

 which comes to the market? A, Yes. 



Q. Where is the next place at which the mackerel are found in abun- 

 dance / A. East of Block Island. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. When are the fine mackerel which you have just mentioned taken? 

 A. From the last of July and all through August. 



By Mh Foster : 



Q. You say that this school of mackerel does not go farther north ? 

 A. Yes. 



Q. Explain why you think so. A. I say so because we do not catch 

 any schools of that sized mackerel any distance to the nor'ard of this 

 point, or more than 20 miles to the north of Block Island. We get an 

 odd mackerel, overgrown, in a school, once in a while, but we do not 

 meet with schools of such mackerel any distance north of Block Island. 



Q. You are satisfied that this school goes no father north ? A. Yes. 



Q. Is that the commonly received opinion ? A.. We have never taken 

 notice of this fact until of late years, although those fish were there pre- 

 viously. Those who have fished there during different seasons tell me 

 that these fish have been there every season for a number of years. 



