THE SOUTHERN SPRINC4 MACKEREL FISHERY. 
263 
RESUMPTION OF THE FISHERY IN 1893. 
The resumi)tiou of the southern spring mackerel fishery in 1893 was an important 
event in the history of the New England fisheries, and its result was Avatched with 
much interest by fishermen, vessel-owners, and fish-dealers. The opinion was advanced 
in some quarters that the reappearance of mackerel in abundaoce would demonstrate 
the wisdom of the legislation cited, and constitute a valuable precedent for other 
regulations of the ocean fisheries by the Federal Government; while, on the other 
hand, it was held by some that a scarcity of mackerel would show that the decrease 
in the abundance was due to other causes than the influence of man. Still others, who 
placed no reliance on the efficacy of legislation of this nature, attached no importance 
to the success or failure of the fishery. 
It may safely be assumed that neither the abundance nor the scarcity of mackerel 
in the spring of 1893 would necessarily have proved anything as regards the effects 
of legislation. Five years are too short a time in which to satisfactorily and conclu- 
sively decide by such means a question of such moment. If the views now entertained 
regarding the rate of growth of the mackerel are correct, the fish hatched during the 
first and second years of the five-year period would hardly do more than reach the 
reproductive age before the expiration of the law, and could obviously have little 
noticeable influence on an increase in the supply, while the fish coming into existence 
in the latter part of the period would, on the renewal of the fishery, be more or less 
immature and in large iiart unmarketable. 
On the approach of the usual time for starting on a southern cruise for mackerel, 
great activity was manifested in the principal ports having mackerel vessels, and 
a small fleet Avas fitted out and sailed from Gloucester, Boston, Portland, and else- 
where. The first vessel to start for the southern grounds was the schooner Ethel B. 
Jacobs, of Gloucester, which left port March 16. By the end of the month about a 
dozen vessels had sailed, but the majority of the fleet did not get under way till the 
first part of April. 
The first mackerel news of the season was brought in by the schooner IHdo, of 
Gloucester, which arrived from Georges Bank on March 23, and reported the capture 
on March 10, on the eastern part of the bank, in 40 fathoms of water, of a codfish in 
whose stomach a mackerel was found. As early as February 5, an old Gloucester 
mackerel fisherman, then employed in the coasting trade, observed five schools of 
mackerel about 75 miles off Cape Henry. The fish were first taken on March 19 by 
the schooner Ethel B. Jacobs, Avhich arrived at Fortress Monroe, Va., on March 21 
with four barrels of small fish; on the 19th insfanf, three days after leaving home, 
the vessel sighted a number of schools of mackerel, but they disappeared after the 
first set Avas made. Bad weather then intervened and prevented fishing. 
The next neAvs of the fish was brought in by the schooner Joseph Bowe, of Glouces- 
ter, which landed a fare of mackerel at New York on April 5. This cargo consisted of 
25 barrels of fish only a feAv inches long, which were called by the fishermen “spikes”; 
the number contained in a barrel was 2,500, and they sold from 1^ to 3 cents each. 
On April 10 a iiart of the fleet was concentrated at Lewes, Del , on account of the 
weather; the vessels reported making hauls of 100 to 200 barrels of very small mackerel, 
which they turned loose. Up to April 14, returns from the fleet indicated that only 
small mackerel, not suitable for market, had been seen. The schooner Joseph Bowe, 
on April 16, brought in a second fare, consisting of 8 barrels of mackerel ranging from 
