324 



H1STOKY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



up to the time of his retirement from active participation in the fisheries, in 1867, no effort was 

 made by the fishermen north of Cape Cod to capture them. 



The fishery apparently sprang into existence and importance between the years 1840 and 1855, 

 upon the south coast of New England. Captain Ashby first engaged in it in 1859, when it was 

 apparently a well-established industry. In 1861 it is recorded that some thirty vessels from New 

 Bedford were profitably engaged in this business on the favorite ground, 15 to 20 miles southeast 

 of No Man's Land. 



Mr. Earll ascertained that little attention was paid by the fishermen of Portland, Me., to 

 swordfish until within two or three years. This fishery is carried on at odd times by mackerel 

 gill net fishermen, and by cod-trawling vessels when their regular industry is interfered with by 

 the abundance of dogfish. The season for dogfish is also the time for swordfish, and at the present 

 time, when the price of swordfish justifies it, smaller fishermen, when they are driven from their 

 regular work by the dogfish, make trips for the express purpose of capturing swordfish. Mackerel- 

 seiners are beginning to carry swordfish irons, and are often very successful in killing the fish. 



At the present day, arid for five or six years past, perhaps much longer, there has been very 

 little change in the number of vessels engaged, this varying from thirty to forty, approximately, 

 in different years. 



Capt. Epes W. Merchant, of Gloucester, who has been familiar with the fisheries since 1804, 

 tells me that the first swordfish ever brought to Gloucester within his recollection was caught on 

 George's Bank about the year 1831, by Captain Pew, who brought it in and sold it at the rate of 

 $8 a barrel, salted. Fishermen had before that been very much afraid of them, but afterwards a 

 good many were caught. 



11. PEODUCTS OF THE FISHERY. 



As an example of the manner in which a season of swordfishing is passed, and of the yield of 

 arvery successful period of work, a record is here given of the trips of the schooner Northern Eagle, 

 of Gloucester, Capt. George H. Martin: 



\ 



Trips of schooner Northern Eagle, Capt. George H. Martin. 



Capt. Benjamin Ashby went swordfishing in the schooner N. H. Dudley two successive years, 

 in 1859 and 1860. In July and August, 1859, he took 108 fish ; the next year 88. 



The schooner Yankee Bride, of New Bedford, boarded in Provincetown Harbor, August, 1879, 

 had already that season taken 60 fish. 



Mr. Earll reached Portland in the progress of the fishery census investigation, July 29, 1879. 

 On this day, he writes, 35 to 40 fish were brought in, and on the 1st of August 200 more were 

 lauded, 60 by one vessel. 



