THE SWORDFISH FISHERY. 325 



Estimating the number of vessels regularly employed in wordfishiug at forty, and putting 

 estimating their annual catch at eighty fish each, which is only half the quantity taken by the 

 Northern Eagle, as shown in the preceding paragraph, the aggregate number of fish taken 

 would be 3,200. 



Competent authorities estimate that each vessel in the mackerel fleet captures and brings in 

 an average quantity of eight barrels of pickled fish, or perhaps eight fish* each. The number of 

 vessels in the mackerel fleet is at least four hundred. Allowing four fish to each, there is an 

 aggregate of 1,600 fish. Estimating oue for each vessel in the halibut fleet yearly, we add fifty 

 more in the aggregate. 



Mr. Earll judged that in 1878, as for several years previous, 2,000 swordfish had been brought 

 into Portland, Me. Allowing 1,000 of these to the regular swordfishermen and the mackerel 

 vessels, we have a remainder of 1,000 taken by the occasional fishermen of Portland already spoken 

 of, and to be added to the aggregate, which now amounts to 5,850. 



Add 150 more for the coasters, sea-bass fishermen, and pound-tending vessels of southern 

 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and the sum is 6,000. 



The average weight of a swordfish dressed is estimated by several persons, Captain Ash by, Mr. 

 Earll, Mr. Thompson, and others, to be 300 pounds, and that this is not far from the truth may be 

 seen by referring back to the records of the Northern Eagle. If the average weight is assumed to 

 be 250 pounds, the aggregate weight of a year's catch of swordfish amounts to 1,500,000 pounds, 

 valued at $45,000, the average price being estimated at three cents per pound. 



To estimate the number of men employed is almost impossible, since the season continues only 

 four months, and 'many are employed for a much shorter period. The crews of the forty vessels 

 number from one hundred and sixty to two hundred ; the number of men employed for shorter 

 periods it seems scarcely necessary to estimate. 



In 1874 the annual catch for the United States was estimated, by Mr. E. G. Blackford, at 2,000 

 fish, weighing 1,000,000 pounds. 



In 1880 the yield of this fishery was 965,450 pounds, distributed as follows: Fisheries of 

 Maine, 50,000 pounds; New Hampshire, 20,000; Massachusetts, 731,950; Rhode Island, 90,000; 

 Connecticut, 73,500. 



12. MARKETS AND PRICES. 



Mi\ Thomson remarks : " Previous to 1862 the market for fresh fish was limited to New Bed- 

 ford, Fall River, Providence, and the adjoining towns, and a large proportion of the fish then 

 takeu was salted and shipped to the West Indies and the Southern States. This was especially 

 the case with those taken about Neman's Land and Martha's Vineyard. Now nearly all are con- 

 sumed fresh, and the average price is somewhat higher than formerly." 



Mr. John H. Thomson writes : "At present the great bulk of the catch is sold fresh. Most 

 of the fish are brought to this port, and a few are carried to New London. Until within a very 

 few years nearly all were disposed of in this vicinity. About 1864 a few were sent to Boston on 

 trial, and the consumption of swordfish in that vicinity has since rapidly increased. Still, the 

 principal market for fresh swordfish may be said to lie between New London and the eastern end 

 of Massachusetts. Providence, R. I., consumes a large quantity." 



Mr. Earll writes : "About 2.000 swordfish, averaging in weight 300 pounds dressed, have been 

 landed yearly in Portland for several years. Most of them are sent to Boston fresh, and the 

 remaiuder are cut up and salted here." 



Mr. Eugene G. Blackford informs me that swordfish are not much esteemed in New York 

 market, and that in 1874 not more than 2,000 pounds in the aggregate were consumed. 



