183 



taus luierraplea u, iieir employment; but mtarls the issue: the vessel^ 

 that kept their positions under their storm-trimmed foresails escaped 

 iinharm^d, and resumed their business early the next day ; while the, 

 refugees were seen no more for four days, two of which were excelleiit 

 for fishing, and during that time many vessels caught from a quarter to 

 a third part of a full fare. 



What has been said of the operations on board of a mackerel-catcher 

 at sea is to be received, as general only, since circumstances modify 

 and change the ordinary course, and since, too, some masters adopt 

 means to suit their pecuUar whims and fancies.* 



As being more minute in some particulars, and somewhat dilFeren^t 

 in others, I insert the remarks of Captain McLaughlin, of Grand' 

 Menan, as contained in Mr. Perley's excellent report ujpon the fisheries 

 of New Brunswick, in 1851. The captain professes to give the mode 

 of pioceedings on board of American vessels in the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence and the Bay Chaleurs, and states that his observations are the 

 result of ten yea,rs' experience in the fishery. " The vessel," says he, 

 "starts for the fishing ground with the trail-line out: if it catch a 

 mackerel, the vessel is hove-to on the larboard side. The laker stands 

 amidships, with the bait-box outside the rail: with a tin pint nailed to 

 a long handle he begins throwing out bait, while every man stands 

 to bis berth. If they find mackerel, the foresail is taken in, and the 

 mainsail hauled out with a boom-tackle. Then the fishing begins. 

 You haul your line through the left hand with the right, and not hand- 

 over-hand,, as you do for cod : if you do, you are sure to lose your fish 

 after it breaks water. When your fish is near coming in, you must 

 take it by leaning over the rail, to prevent its striking against the side 

 of the vessel, catching the line quick, close to the fish, with the right 

 band, unhooking it, with a sling, into the barrel: with the same motion, 

 ihejig goes out in a hne parallel with your own berth. You must be 

 quick in case a mackerel takes your other line, and entangles your 



* The British mackerel fishery is unlike ours in several partieulars. The vessels employed 

 in it are smaller, nets are in more common use, and a much larger proportion of the fish 

 caught are consumed fresh. 



The average number of fresh mackerel sold in London is upwards of one million annually. 

 This fish was first allowed to be cried through the streets of that city on Sundays in 1698; and 

 the year following, Billingsgate, by act of Parliament, was opened as a free market, with permis- 

 sion to the fishmongers to sell mackerel on Sundays, previous to the performance of divine 

 service. 



The London market sometimes allows the fishermen to receive liberal reward for their toil. 

 In May, 1807, the first boat-load of mackerel sent there sold at forty guineas the hundred, or 

 for seven shillings each, (the count is six score to the hundred;) and the second fare brought 

 thirteen guineiis the hundred. But in 1808, the price on the coast, so large was the catch, wa» 

 one shilling only for sixty fish. Again, in 1828, the supply was large, and more than three 

 millions were sent to London. In 1831, the crews of sixteen boats caught in a single day 

 mackerel which sold ' for £5,253, or about twenty-five thousand dollars. Two years later, 

 10,800 fish were brought on shore on Sunday by the erew of one boat. In 1834, a crew eameS 

 in one night upwards of five hundred dollars. 



The English fishmermen make frequent complaints against their French coiQpetitors, and 

 petition to Parliament for protection. A mackerel boat, with suitable nets and other equipi- 

 inents, may be estimated to cost about two thousand dollars. 



The French mackisrel fishery was established by Fouquet, near the close of the seventeenth 

 century, principally at Belleisle, on the coast of Brittanuy. It has never acquired great Im- 

 portance. The number of vessels from Dieppe (a large fishing port) in 1830 wasonly forty- 

 five, and the catch vas valued at 280,00U livres. 



