198 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The first vessel to iirrive at New York with mackerel was the schooner Mien M. 
Adams, of Gloucester, which laudeil 125 barrels, or 22,500 fish, on April 12. The last 
arrival was the schooner E. F. Willard, of Portland, whicli reached New York May 20. 
The largest number of vessels in i:»ort in any one day was 28 on April 24. On April 25 
there were 13 fares landed, on April 27 there were 10, and on April 29 there were 11. 
On no other day were more than 7 cargoes landed. 
During the spring of 1886 from 20 to 25 fares of fresh mackerel were received at 
Philadelphia, averaging about the same as those landed in New York; 5 or G cargoes 
were landed in Providence, and a few trips were made to other cities, including one to 
Boston consigned to New York dealers, and one to Norfolk for shipment to New York. 
1 n addition to the fresh fish taken in 1880, about 2,000 barrels of salt mackerel 
were lauded in New York before June 1 by vessels engaged exclusively in the salt- 
mackerel fishery, and 500 more barrels were lauded by vessels employed principally in 
taking fresh fish. 
The spring of 1887 found the fish-dealers with an exceptionally light stock of salt 
mackerel, consequently the fishermen were eager to start south, and the outcome of 
the fishery was watched Avith unusual interest. The first vessel sailed March 11, 
and by the height of the season about 106 schooners had entered the fishery. The 
fleet fell in Avith the mackerel unusually late, the arrival of the schools perhaps being 
delayed by the continuance of wintry weather far into spring. The first mackerel 
appear to have been taken on April 8 off Cape Charles, Va., by the U. S. Pish Com- 
mission schooner Grampus; these fish Avere caught in gill nets. The first fare Avas 
landed at New York on April 23, and consisted of 10,000 medium-small fish caught 
two days earlier by the schooner Caroline Vouglit, 50 miles off Hog Island, Va. There 
were nine other arrivals at New York during the last week of AiAril, aggregating 
195,750 fish, mostly small, the largest fare, 70,000, being brought in by the schooner 
Nellie N. Boive. The prices were low, ranging from 24 to 6 cents per fish. 
During May there were 87 arrivals of fresh mackerel at New York and Philadel- 
phia, the fares aggregating 6,736 barrels, or 1,347,100 fish. The largest single trips 
Avere 200 barrels, Avhich quantity Avas taken by each of the schooners Sarah P. Ayer, 
Mollie Adams, Clara 8. Cameron, Margaret Smith, Nellie N. Eoive, and the steamer 
Novelty (a converted menhaden steamer). 
In the first half of the month the fish were found between Cape Charles and Cape 
May. Later the fleet followed the rapidly moving schools on the New Jersey and 
New York coasts. The mackerel Avere, for the most part, of small and medium size, 
and the prices were rather low, owing to the gveat abundance of shad in the markets; 
the fishermen realized from 12 cents to one-half cent per fish, according to size. 
Several good fares of fresh fish were also taken to Boston ; thus, on May 23, the 
steamer Novelty and the schooner Mollie Adams each landed 350 barrels from the coast 
of New Jersey and New York, the sales being from $8 to $1.50 per 100 fish. 
A feature of the fishery Avas the lauding of comiiaratively large quantities of salt 
mackerel at New York, Philadelj)hia, and various New England ports. The first fare, 
taken to NeAv York on May 6, consisted of 30 barrels and sold for $7 a barrel. Other 
arrivals at New York and Philadelphia comprised 2,720 barrels, having a value of 
$19,401, the prices 'per barrel ranging from $6.25 to $9.50. The salt mackerel lauded 
at New England i)orts, chiefly Gloucester, amounted to 1,982 barrels and yielded the 
fishermen $13,792. An interesting trip of salt mackerel was that of the schooner 
Edith Poice, Avhich reached Gloucester May 24, Avith 350 barrels, caught 100 juiles south 
