22 
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
species, the quantity and value of the fish landed at Boston and 
Gloucester by American fishing vessels in 1908. Over 70 per cent 
of the entire catch was obtained on grounds lying off the United 
States coast — that is, west of the sixty-sixth meridian of west 
longitude. 
Quantity and Value of Fish Landed by American Fishing Vessels at 
Boston and Gloucester, Mass., in 1908, from Grounds off the Coasts of 
the United States, Newfoundland, and Canadian Provinces. 
Species. 
United States. 
Newfoundland. 
Canadian Provinces. 
Total. 
Cod: 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Fresh 
Salted 
33, 182,828 
6,219,883 
$865,257 
223,033 
1,135,100 
3,925,014 
$24,268 
136,581 
7,297,349 
11,687,557 
$153, 158 
403, 187 
41,615,277 
21,832,454 
$1,042,683 
762,801 
Cusk: 
Fresh 
3,334,331 
108,910 
60,081 
1,732, 168 
27,891 
28,645 
699 
5,066,499 
140,772 
88,726 
3,531 
Salted 
2,732 
3,971 
100 
Haddock: 
Fresh 
42,425,206 
386,875 
1,001,933 
5,889 
4,992,659 
221,919 
115,399 
3,364 
47,417,865 
640,507 
1,117,332 
9,729 
Salted 
31,713 
476 
Hake: 
Fresh 
17,991,949 
29,567 
256,417 
443 
41,975 
28,588 
353 
2,400,526 
64,287 
22,532 
968 
20,434,450 
122,442 
279,302 
1,833 
Salted 
422 
Pollock: 
Fresh 
12,122,957 
663,495 
132,219 
9,953 
305,769 
401,601 
2,949 
6,034 
12,428,726 
1,090,205 
135,168 
Salted 
25,109 
377 
16,364 
Halibut: 
Fresh 
491, 179 
508 
38, 125 
36 
1,158,235 
879,728 
75,092 
61,577 
1,529,838 
66,322 
119,417 
4,650 
3, 179,252 
946,558 
232,634 
Salted 
66,263 
Mackerel: 
Fresh 
3,817,780 
477,400 
183,541 
25,419 
1,690,040 
2,989,800 
125,053 
150,096 
5,507,820 
3,467,200 
308,594 
175,515 
123,644 
136,590 
Salted 
Herring: 
Fresh . 
3,174,320 
29,284 
5,292 
3,534,000 
8, 194, 196 
94,360 
131,298 
6,708,320 
8,587,396 
Salted . 
393,200 
Swordfish: 
Fresh 
1,344,410 
118,006 
13,444 
1,627 
1,357,854 
119,633 
Other fish: 
Fresh 
880,250 
41,400 
8,071 
1,012 
880,250 
8,071 
Salted 
41,400 
1,012 
Total 
127,086,448 
2,966, 743 
18,957,629 
524,904 
35,421,170 
1,137,778 
181,465,247 
4,629,425 
INVESTIGATION OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 
Since early times the taking of mackerel has been one of the great 
high-sea fisheries of the country, but since 1886 the fishery has 
yielded only a comparatively small percentage of the fish caught 
for many years immediately preceding. It has not been determined 
whether the mackerel are now actually scarcer than formerly, whether 
they have changed their grounds, or whether the fishing methods are 
such as to disperse the schools and reduce the catch. 
The migratory habits of mackerel continue to baffle the skill of 
the most experienced fishermen. Each season during the past five 
years a large body of mackerel has appeared off the Cape Shore in 
June, remaining in those waters about six weeks, then suddenly dis- 
appearing, and few fish being seen or taken during the rest of the 
year. In 1907 and 1908 after the disappearance of this body of fish 
the seining fleet spent several weeks cruising over the usual grounds 
with little or no success. These periods of great scarcity occurring 
