Yietping Prorrr anp Sport. 328 
joyable than ‘ whiffing’ for mackerel, and the following quotation will show 
that others are much of the same way of thinking: 
“**Tt was evident the bay was full of mackerel ; in every direction, as far 
as the eye could range, gulls and puffins of the St. Lawrence were collected, 
and, to judge from their activity and clamor, there appeared ample enjoyment 
tor them amongst the fry beneath. We immediately bore away from the 
place where the birds were most numerously congregated, and the lines were 
scarcely overboard when we found ourselves in the centre of a shoal of mack- 
erel. The hooker, however, had too much way. We lowered the foresail, 
double reefed the mainsail, and then went steadily to work. Directed by the 
movements of the birds, we followed the mackerel. Tacking and wearing 
the boat occasionally when we found we had overrun the shoal, for two hours 
we killed these beautiful fish as fast as the baits could be renewed and the 
lines hauled in, and when we left off fishing, actually wearied with the sport, 
we found we had taken above 500 pounds. There is not, on sea or river, al- 
ways excepting angling for salmon, any sport comparable to this delightful 
amusement. Full of lite and bustle, every thing about it is animated and ex- 
hilarating.’” 
Hook-fishing for mackerel is very exciting sport. A brisk 
breeze, sky mellowed by fleecy clouds, gulls swooping and 
screaming, every thing apparently in excitement. Under 
such circumstances and surroundings, it is not strange if the 
troller, whiffer, or still-baiter should inflate his lungs and 
feast his soul until the waning sun warns him to desist and 
retire. 
Excellent sport is sometimes to be had by rowing or scull- 
ing a boat into a thick shoal, and trolling for them with feath- 
ered squid, twirling spoon, or casting to them a white artifi- 
cial fly. 
Statistics of Mackerel Catches in the States of Maine and Massachusetts 
from 1863 to 1867, and the average wholesale Prices per barrel. 
1864, Massachusetts. 306,000 bbls. #18 00 $5,508,000 00 
‘¢ Maine. ... 100,000 ** 18 00 1,800,000 00 
1865, Massachusetts..... . 300,000 ** 21 00 6,300,000 00 
MM MESHES iswovalne 90,000‘ 21 00 1,890,000 00 
1866, Massachusetts .. 250,000‘ 17 00 4,250,000 00 
6 MAINe. .....0c0cerseee .. 80,000 ‘ 17 00 1,360,000 00 
1867, Massachusetts...........- 200,000“ 15 00 3,000,000 00 
66 Maine......sccee cheyenne 70,000 &* 15 00 1,050,000 00 
1,396,000“ $25,158,000 00 
