BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 79 
On George’s the catch was larger than during the preceding month, 
but not equal to the light catch of June, 1886. 
The schools of cod frequenting the shore waters off Cape Ann during 
I the spring months have disappeared, and the catch in this locality has 
been light. Of the Gloucester vessels employed in the cod fisheries on 
the off-shore banks those using salt-clam bait exclusively have, as a 
rule, been more successful than those supplied with fresh bait. Many 
vessels depending entirely upon fresh bait have returned from Western 
Bank with an average of only 25,000 to 40,000 pounds. Among the 
arrivals of vessels fishing on Quereau, Grand, and Western Banks with 
salt clams are: Schooner M. H. Perkins, 140,000 pounds ; schooner J" 
W. Collins, 140,000 pounds $ schooner Druid, 135,000 pounds j schooner 
Flash, 90,000 pounds ; and schooner Legal Te nder, 60,000 pounds. Hake 
have been reported more abundant off the eastern portion of the New 
England coast, and on Cashe’s and Jeffrey’s Banks, during the month 
than during any preceding June for some years. A large percentage 
of the catch has been landed at Gloucester, and the receipts show a 
considerable increase. 
Halibut have been scarce during the month, the Gloucester vessels 
arriving with small fares. The bulk of these fish are landed fresh and 
at once iced in boxes and distributed by rail to the trade. At times of 
oversupply the surplus is sent to the smoke-houses. 
Pollock have been found in usual abundance off Cape Cod, being 
caught chiefly in traps and purse-seines. 
The mackerel catch, although an improvement over that of 1886, has 
not thus far been satisfactory. Almost daily additions have been made 
to the mackerel fleet, and the fishing grounds about Block Island, off 
the New England and Nova Scotia shores, and in the Gulf of Saint Law- 
rence, have been well patrolled. At the close of the month the New 
England mackerel fleet numbered about 250 vessels, most of them cruis- 
ing between Cape Cod and the Bay of Fundy, though about 30 sail had 
already entered the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The first American seiner 
to enter the gulf during the present season was the schooner A. R. 
Crittenden, which passed through the Gut of Canso on June 15. The 
schooner Albert H. Harding followed soon after, but after a short cruise, 
during which not a single mackerel was seen, she returned, reaching 
Gloucester on June 27, and landed a cargo of 126 barrels, part of these 
being taken before entering the gulf and the remainder on her return 
passage after leaving same. Mackerel have schooled freely all along 
the New England coast, and occasional good catches have been made, 
but most of the schools have been small, containing only a few barrels. 
Much of the time the weather has been foggy, and seiners have been 
obliged to remain idle. The receipts have been light, and prices have 
advanced from $6 per barrel to $9 for sea-packed mackerel. 
Herring of good size have been abundant along various portions of 
the shore between Cape Cod and Eastern Maine. The catch in weirs- 
