324. HISTORY 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 capturiug swordfish. Mackerel- 
seiners are beginning to carry swordfish irons, and are often very successful in killing the fish. 
At the present day, and 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. PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERY. 
As an example of the manner in which a season of swordfishing is passed, and of the yield of 
a very 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. 
aot Date of start. fue No. of fish taken. Where sold. | Price. 
Days. “| Cents. 
DP DUNS Ves cco cin'ce'seeewsilnesece ee 10 16 (5,000 Ibs.) Boston .........- 3 
2. MIMNODY ox ce sisrateidin wale siataweeees 7 22 (6, 600 Ibs.) 220 GO. cecee eee 44 
B | June 80.22.20 cece eee eee cee ee 14 12 (3,700 Ibs.) Newport........ 23 
4 | Paly Ios cce wacasaaes secsuseacees .- li 20 (5, 800 Ibs.) Boston.......... 3 
BDAY 27 i cc cscs ceniecicwsmiceiewcicce 18 37 (9, 000 Ibs.) tee SOON owe Seoecen 5 
6 | August 15........2.-...ecee eens 15 26 (6, 500 lbs.) 8500 ccecacemians. 3 
7 | September 1..................-. 16 16 (5, 600 Ibs.) wwe MO ceiccwiasicreree (2) 
8 | September 20...............---- 14 14 (4,500 Ibs.) tae ywwin ac aeains (3) 
163 (46, 700 lbs.) 
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 Ist of August 200 more were 
landed, 60 by one vessel. 
