358 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



age, and later in fishing towns, and it may reasonably be assumed that 

 its result has been to prevent the undertaking or continuance of un- 

 profitable trips, and the loss of much valuable time by fishing vessels. 



During the past 3 months the Grampus has been continuously and 

 actively engaged in a research having for its principal object the care- 

 ful observation of the mackerel during its spring migrations, both as 

 relates to its movements and abundance. This investigation is of ex- 

 ceptional importance this year for two reasons : 



First, mackerel were very scarce during the previous season, as has 

 already been intimated, and therefore much importance attaches to 

 having early information which may indicate their probable abundance 

 during the present summer. 



Second, this is the first year of the so-called u close-time mackerel 

 law," which prohibits the catching of mackerel (except those " caught 

 with hook and line from boats, and landed in said boats, or in traps 

 and weirs conuected with the shore,") between March 1 and June 

 1 of each year while the law continues in force : namely, for 5 years. 



In view of the fact, therefore, that vessels engaging this year in the 

 mackerel fishery have practically been debarred from making the usual 

 observations in spring, the cruise of the Grampus was looked forward 

 to as possibly being the means of supplying the fishermen with much 

 useful information which would be of immediate practical value. Under 

 ordinary circumstances such result would undoubtedly have been accom- 

 plished. But, strange as it may seem, the Gra7)ipus failed to meet with 

 large schools of mackerel during her cruise which has just ended ; only 

 a few small-sized fish have been seen. While it is to be regretted that 

 such is the outcome of her trip, since it would be more gratifying to 

 record conditions indicative of prosperity to the mackerel fishermen, it 

 will, nevertheless, be apparent that the result conveys useful and im- 

 portant information to those most interested, for it is thus placed almost 

 beyond question that mackerel will be even less numerous this year 

 than they were last season — a probability which it may be very impor- 

 tant for the fishing interest to know at the beginning of the season. 



31. The importation of salted bonito as mackerel. — The exceptional scar- 

 city of the common mackerel (Scomber seombrus) on the fishing grounds of 

 the western Atlantic during the past year resulted in the supply of 

 that species being much below the demand and a consequent increase 

 in the price. The supply from ordinary sources being inadequate, 

 dealers have sought to obtain from other countries material for filling 

 their orders, and in one case at least an attempt has been made to place 

 on the American market an allied species imported from Europe as a 

 substitute for mackerel. It is highly probable that a confusion of com- 

 mon names may have led to the importation alluded to, since it is by 

 no means impossible that the foreign shipper may not have known that 

 the fish he sent to the United States differed materially if any from our 

 common mackerel. And it is also supposable that he may have been 



