270 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The fishing in the sixth season after the expiration of the close-time law was 
almost as disappointing as in any of the preceding years, the catch in fact being 
smaller than in any season since 1894. The 1898 fleet numbered 44 sail, of which 33 
vessels hailed from Gloucester, 3 from Provincetown, 2 from Boston, 2 from Chatham, 
2 from Boothbay, 1 from Portland, and 1 from JNorth Haven. The first vessel to start 
south was the schooner Kearsarge, of Gloucester, which sailed March 21 ; this was 
followed the next day by the Ethel B. Jacobs, and by the end of the mouth quite a 
number of vessels had sailed. An interesting feature was that two of the smaller 
vessels were fitted with gill nets instead of purse seines. 
■ The first fish were caught by the schooner Ethel B. Jacobs off Body Island, 70 
miles south of Cape Henry, Yirginia. The fare was landed at Hew York on March 29, 
and consisted of 100 barrels, containing 8,300 fish, averaging IJ pounds, which brought 
35 cents each, $2,900 being realized on the trip. Subsequent events showed that only 
the opening of the season was auspicious. 
No other fares Avere brought in until April 12, Avlien the schooner Lena and Maud, 
of Gloucester, lauded nearly 20,000 large mackerel at Ncav York, which sold for 20 to 
25 cents apiece; these were caught in latitude 37° 50^ Ten days later the schooners 
Lizzie M. (Jenter and Carrie E. Phillips, of Gloucester, took 23,000 large and medium 
mackerel to New York; these brought 25 and 15 cents each, respectively. Only 2 
other fares were received at New York during the month. On the 25th the schooner 
Lizzie Maud, of Gloucester, landed 25 barrels of large and medium fish, which sold at 
the prices last quoted; and on the 27th the schooner Lucille, of Gloucester, discharged 
100 barrels of medium-sized fish, Avhich were disposed of at 15 cents each. The 
schooners Elora Jj. Eicherson of Boothbay and Elsie M. Smith of Gloucester took 
hires to Philadelphia on April 28 and 29, respectively, each A^essel having about 6,000 
fish, mostly medium, which sold at about 15 cents each; these mackerel Avere caught 
off the Delaware Breakwater. 
During May, 10 fares of mackerel, aggregating 225 barrels, were landed at New 
York, the gill-netters TP. B. Keen and Y. A. Rowe taking in a number of small fares, 
aggregating about 15,000 fish. The other vessels getting fish were the Marguerite 
liaslcins and the Hattie M. Graham, both of Gloucester, which together landed 4,000 
large and medium mackerel on the 16th and 18th. 
The yield in the southern fishery of 1898 was 948 barrels, representing about 
102,545 fish, valued at $19,764. The average catch of the vessels engaged was 21 
barrels, or 2,330 fish, worth $449, and for those schooners fortunate enough to take 
any fish the average was 79 barrels, or 8,545 fish, valued at $1,647. Thirty-two A-essels 
took no mackerel whatever, but practically all of those which had fares paid expenses 
and some of them realized comparatively large sums. The prices were unusually 
good throughout the season, ranging from 12 to 35 cents apiece, on account of the 
scarcity and large size of the mackerel. 
It thus appears that during the six years which have elapsed since the resumption 
of the southern spring mackerel fishery, after its five years’ suspension by Congres- 
sional action, the aggregate catch of fresh mackerel has been 18,396 barrels, represent- 
ing about 2,393,000 fish, having a value of $215,028. The average annual yield was 
3,066 barrels, valued at $35,838; the average annual catch ijer vessel engaged Avas 58 
barrels, valued at $682 ; and the average number of barrels per trip was 69 barrels. 
