262 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
Captain Smith has never known a vessel to make a complete circle around a school of mack- 
erel while towing the seine-boat from which the net was being thrown out, but thinks it probable 
that it may have been done. 
A lantern is carried both in the seine-boat and dory, the one in the former always being kept 
darkened or out of sight until the seine is set, since a light would so blind the men in the boat 
that it would be difficult for them to perform successfully the work of setting the net. 
When a school of mackerel has been taken in the seine and the net is pursed up, a signal is 
made by the crew of the seine-boat, who have a lantern, so as to attract the attention of the men 
on board of the vessel, who immediately bring the latter near the seine-boat. The skipper and 
three or four of the crew then go on board the vessel in the dory and bring the schooner along- 
side the seine-boat, performing this evolution in the same manner as it is done in the day-time. 
The lantern, which is always carried in the seine-boat, enables the skipper to find her without any 
trouble. Much vexatious delay and difficulty, however, sometimes occurs in consequence of the 
light carried by the seine-boat’s crew being extinguished. In such case it is not only hard, but 
sometimes impossible for the men on the vessel to find the seine-boat, since on a dark, windy night 
she cannot be seen more than a few rods distant. 
It is claimed that the practice of using a large lantern to attract the fish nearer to the surface 
of the water than they usually come, so that they can be more plainly seen, has met with decided 
success, and it is believed that there is reason for anticipating considerable improvements in this 
respect hereafter. In alluding to this matter a writer in the Cape Ann Advertiser, November 4, 
1881, says: 
“Tt would not greatly surprise us if the mackerel fleet, next year, were supplied with powerful 
calcium lights, to be carried at the masthead, and that the fishery will be extensively prosecuted in 
the night-time. Surely the signs of progression are manifested in almost every branch of the fish- 
eries, and brains are rapidly coming to the front and making themselves manifest. A year ago who 
would have dreamed of catching mackerel in the night-time? Now it is fast becoming a reality.” 
As may be readily inferred, this practice of night fishing is one which calls for great endur- 
ance and hardihood on the part of the fishermen who engage in it. It frequently happens, when 
good catches are made for days and nights in succession, that the men get no rest whatever until 
they are thoroughly worn out by their constant labors and vigils and are scarcely able to refrain 
from falling asleep even when engaged at their work. Nor is the work on the fishing ground all 
they have to do. When a fare is obtained, all sail is made upon the vessel and she is driven as 
swiftly as possible for the home port, where the fish are landed, new supplies taken on board, and 
again the men go to sea without, in the mean time, having an opportunity of visiting their homes 
or of securing the rest they so much stand in need of. So sharp is the competition in this fishery, 
and so eager are the fishermen to ‘“ make hay while the sun shines,” that is, to improve every op- 
portunity during the short season while the mackerel can be taken, that the only limit to their 
labors is when nature is no longer able to sustain the extraordinary drafts that are made upon it. 
The following notes written by Capt. 8. J. Martin will serve to give an idea of the continued labor 
and consequent fatigue which the fishermen endure: 
“Our mackerel fishermen have ‘drove business’ this season. I know a number of cases where 
vessels have arrived in the morning with 300 barrels of mackerel, have landed the fish and gone 
out again the same night. The schooner Fleetwing caught 210 barrels of mackerel; came into 
Gloucester with them all on deck; hired twenty men who had the fish all dressed and salted at 
tw@go'clock the following morning. The vessel’s crew went home to sleep; went out again the same 
morning at eight o’clock. 
