Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-07-28
From the North American Review for July.
THE MACK ESEI FISHERY

This fish is one OF The most beautiful that the
sea affords. Its habits are continually changing
and with them, the modes OF catching it. Fifty
years after the settlement Of Plymouth, the prac
tice prevailed OF taking it in seines by moonlight
aud senes are still used to great advantage ANA
extent in some parts of Nova Scotia. The fisher
men of New England, at the present time, use The
hook principally, though there are indications that
some other means must be resorted to, Or the bl-
sness he abandoned. When first seen upon the
coast in the spring the fish is thin and poor, and
voyages in quest of it hardly pay their expenses,
even when iul fares are obtaincd The course OF
our fishermen in pursuit of the mackerel is com.
monty as follows. They seek for, aud generally
find il, in the vicinity of the Cupes of the Della
ware about the month of May; aud following it
north and east as the season advances, they make
fares" in the Bay of Fundy, in July and August,
in the Bay OF ChaIeurs, in September, aud some
times in The latter Bay aud the Gull OF ST. Law
renee, in the month OF Octr. More frequently
however, the year following 1t on lis return west
before the equinoctiu gale. They st dom pursue
il further in autumn than The capes OF Niassachh-
sets, or the shoals of Nantucket. Al times great
quantities taken along the coast, IN small boats;
aud landsmen women aud children leave their ac-
cuslomed emp.oyments and, by the use OF pans,
baskeIs trays, pllchlorks, and the like, show how
true it is that "necesslly is The mother OF lnven
tIon."
The master of the mackere vessel after reach
his sails except the malnsall, brings his vessel
bows 10 the wind, ranges his crew AT proper inter-
walls along one oi her SIDES and, without mack
ere in sight, attempts TO raise school or Shodt, 10y
throwing over bait. 1t he succeeds 10 Ills wish
es, scene ensues which can hardly he described,
but which il were worth TRIP 10 HE hshils-
ground 10 witness.
We have heard more than one fisherman say,
that he had caught sixty nackerel IN u minute (;
and when he was told that, at that rate, lie had
taken thrty.six hundred in an hour, and that,
with another person expert, he would catch u
whole fare in IL single day. he would reject the fl
CURES, as proving nothing beyond wish 10 under
value his skill. Certain il is, that some active
young men will hpu IN aud jerk off u fish, and
| throw out the line for another with single mo-
ton aud repeat the act III so rapid SUCCESSION,
! that their arms seem continually on the swing.
| To be HIGH line" is an object OF earnest desire
| mong the ambitious and the muscular ease, The
precision and adrouness Of movement which such
| men exhibit in the strife, are admirable. While
The school remains aousde, and will take the hook,
the excitement Of The men, and the rushing noise
! of the fish in their beautiful and manifold evoiu
| lions in The water, arrest the attention OF the most
careless observer. OlenInes the fishing ceases
| in Il moment, as it put an end 10 by magic the
! fish according to The iishermaI's concet, panlc-
stricken by the dreadful havoc among lheIl, SUD :
denly disappear from s!ght.
i Eipht Ten, aud even twelve thousand have been
\ caupbt and must now be dressed down." Tins
process covers the persons OF the crew, the deck
the tubs and every thing near, with blood aud
garbage: and, us II is often performed IN darkness
and wenriness, aud under the reaction Of over
tasked nerves, the novice aud The gentleman OF
amateur fisher, who hitherto had seen and parlci-
paled in nolhirg but keen spor,, become Disguised
!! They ought to remember, that in the recreations
, of manhood, as in those OF youth, The toll oil
! hauling the hund-sled up hill, is, generally, in
5 proportion to the sleepness and slpperlness
which give the peasurable velocity down.
r The approach OF night, tho Disappearance oil
the nuckerel, closing all labor with the hook and
line The fish as they are dressed are thrown III
to casks of water TO rid them OF blood. The deck
is then cleared aud washed; The mainsail is hauled
down, and the foresai is hoised in lis stead d
lantern is placed in the rigging; watch is sci to
; salt the fish and keep lookout Tor the night
and lhe master and the remainder OF his crew, al
a late hour, seek repose.
The earliest CLEANS of light find The anxious
master awake, hurying forward preparations to
the morning meal, aud making other arrunge
menls for u renewal OF the previous days work
! But the means which were SO successful then, iai
now. and perhaps ior. days to coms.; Tor tho Gu
pricous creatures will not take the hook, nor CAT
anrne urg o-sis & nss!enced and sagacous
induce them to bite. Repeating however, the op
eraions which we have described, from time &c
time, and until load has been Obtained, or unit
| .To catch the greatest number Of fish.