THE SOUTHERN SPRING MACKEREL FISHERY. 269 
Under the lieadiiig “largest for years,” the Gloucester JJaily Times of May 6 
presented the following glowing account of the mackerel prospects: 
Thirty -six hours from Fulton Dock, New York, and back again with 400 barrels of bloater fresh 
mackerel, which are selling at 15 cents apiece. Such is the news as telegrai)hed to the Times this 
morning from New York in regard to the schooner Marguerite Haskins, Capt. Charles Harty, of this 
port. .Just think of it. In these years, when 100 liarrels is a good and HOO l>arrels an extra big trip 
out south, to hear of a vessel getting in with 400 barrels and all big ones at that. Cajitain Harty is 
to be congratulated on his great good fortune. May there be others to follow 
While everybody was yet wondering at the lug trips and speculating on the probable stocks and 
whether anybody else was on the way, another telegram at the Times office announced the arrival of 
the schooner Ethel B. Jacobs, Capt. Solomon .Jacobs, with 600 barrels of mackerel, half large and half 
medium. This startler is followed a few minutes later by a dispatcli from the skipper stating that 
she has 400 barrels, all large. Whichever is riglit, it is good news either way, and makes the fourth 
trip of the season for Captain Jacobs, and should he get a good price for the trip he will still be 
high line. 
Close on the heel of this good news comes another telegram from New York announcing the 
arrival of the schooner Lucille, Capt. Martin Welch, with 200 barrels of bloater mackerel, which are 
selling for 15 cents apiece. Close following this news came still another telegram announcing the 
arrival of schooner Hustler, Capt. Charles T. Keene, with 80 barrels of large mackerel. Schooner 
Brayanza, Capt. William Corkum, also arrived at New York this morning with 100 barrels of fresh 
mackerel, selling at 6 cents apiece. 
Di8p<atches have also been received stating that the schooner Lottie Gardner is also at New York 
with 80 barrels large mackerel, and schooner Agnes E. Downes with 200 barrels large mackerel. 
'T\i% Haskins took her fish off Barnegat. The fish of schooners J/ucpHcrile ifnsfc/as and Lucille 
run from 75 to 80 mackerel to a barrel. 
A special dispatch to the Times this morning from Philadelphia announces the arrival of 
schooner Mariner, Capt. Joshua Stanley, of this port, with a big trip, fully 350 barrels of medium 
mackerel, which are selling at 6 cents apiece. 
It has been many years since such trips have been taken south as those lauded by schooners 
Marguerite Haskins, Ethel B. Jacobs, and Mariner. 
On tbe 10th there tvere 19 arrivals at ISTew York, consisting of 2,047 barrels, or 
292,000 fish, mostly medium-sized, selling at from 31 to 14 cents each, the gross value 
being $15,171. This was the largest number of vessels to arrive on any one day, 
although the fares averaged smaller than on certain other days. 
As the time approached for fitting out for the Cape Shore fishery and the vessels 
started for their home ports, some of them fell in with schools of mackerel and made 
small catches, which were landed fresh at Newport, Boston, and Gloucester between 
May 13 and 19. During the third week in May there were also a few small cargoes of 
large and medium fish taken to New York, 5 vessels arriving on the 20th with fish 
that sold for 20 cents each. The final fares of the season were lauded at New York 
on the 24th; these consisted of 2,900 large fish, which brought 22 cents each. 
The total yield of fresh fish in the 1897 southern fishery, was 11,023 barrels, 
containing 1,491,255 fish, with a market value of $107,242. 
The number of vessels that took fish was 58, or 69 per cent. Twenty-four vessels 
landed one fare each, 24 secured 2 fares each, 3 took 3 fares each, 5 brought in 4 fares 
each, while 1 obtained 5 fares and another 6 fares. 
Considering the entire fleet, the average catch j)er vessel was 138 barrels, or 
17,753 fish, valued at $1,277, while for those which landed fares the average catch was 
200 barrels, valued at $1,849. 
Eleven vessels salted the whole or a part of their southern catch; the largest 
quantity salted by any one vessel was 100 barrels, and the aggregate amount of 
mackerel thus jirepared was 473 barrels, having a value of $2,838. 
