334 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
which begius in the vicinity of Long Island the 1st of May. The fish gradually work north to the 
coast of Maine in June, where they remain until October, wheu they go south as far as Long Island 
again, the season closing about the Ist of November. 
“The mate must also ‘have a good eye for fish,’ as he generally goes to the masthead with the 
captain to look for them. His duties are to look after all the gear, superintend the salting, and 
mending of the seine, and tend to discharging the fish at the factory, keeping an accurate account 
of the number of barrels landed. He gets from 1 to 3 cents per barrel on all the fish landed in 
addition to his average share with the crew. 
“The cook is hired outright at $40 to $50 per month, and is paid wholly by the crew. Formerly 
he had an average share, but of late this practice has been given up. He takes charge of the 
steamer when the men are out in, the boats, and frequently brings it alongside the seine after it 
has been pursed up. 
“The engineer must have a license, and is expected to remain at his post all the time, except 
when at meals and when running the donkey engine for hoisting the fish into the steamer. When 
the business first started he received $100 per month, but the wages have kept falling, until the 
present season (1879) some of them get only $50. The fireman generally receives from $25 to $30. 
Both are paid and boarded by the owners. 
“The crew ‘go at the halves’ and board themselves. They live probably the most extrava- 
gantly of any class of fishermen, and in some cases go into foolish expenditures for the table. 
‘‘Mr. Maddocks cites instances of its costing them $10 per week for provisions alone, and he 
estimates their average cost of living to be $6 or $7 per week, though, from what I learn from other 
sources, I should say $4 would be nearer the figure. They also pay their cook’s wages, thus bring- 
ing the expense of living perhaps a little above the figures stated. They are expected to get the 
steamer ready in spring, do the fishing, mend and care for the seine, and put steamer, boats and 
gear in order, to be left for the winter. They make on an average about $50 per month, leaving 
a balance, after paying their expenses, of but little, if any, more than the ordinary fisherman.” 
4, THE VESSELS. 
Schooners and sloops were the only vessels in this fishery until a few years ago, when steamers 
were introduced, and as they have been found preferable to sailing craft they are now very gener- 
ally employed on the northern grounds, though a large fleet of sailing vessels continues in the busi- 
ness. Inthe year 1880 the menhaden fleet comprised eighty-two steamers and three hundred and 
seventy-four sailing vessels, aggregating 12,905.71 tons, and equipped with six hundred and forty- 
eight seine-boats. The value of the fleet, including seines and other outfit, was $1,357,304. The 
average steamer is about 70 tons measurement, and costs $16,000. They are about 90 feet long, 
17 feet beam, 74 feet depth of hold, and 7 feet draught aft. The largest steamers in the fleet 
are more than 150 feet long; these carry from 27 to 30 men, and cost $30,000 and upwards. The 
cost of running the average steamer is about $1,000 per month for wages, fuel and provisions. 
_ They are screw steamers, and are rigged with one mast forward, which is fitted with a crane used 
in taking in the catch. The quarters for the men are in the forecastle, under and forward of the 
pilot-house. A little forward of amidships is the main hatch opening into the hold, where the fish 
are stowed in bulk. The engine-house is astern the main hatch, with coal-bunkers opening on the 
deck on either side. Fitted to the bulwarks on either side, near the stern, are cranes for the 
boats, and towing-chocks are set in the deck on either quarter aft. The steamers are built of hard 
pine, with white-oak frames. The hold or tank for stowing the fish is water-tight, and is said to 
make the vessels exceedingly safe. The menhaden steamer Jemima Boomer, while at sea in rough 
