Daily American telegraph., 1852-03-16
The MackereI Fishery.

The MackereI Fishery.
We saw in the True Democrat few days
since an account Of the mackerel fishery as
carried on at Gloucester Mass, Thinking a
more extended notice might be interesting to
our readers, on the same subject, we have
written the following
Probably but few are aware OF the great ex-
tent of the mackerel and other fisheries of this
country. 1t has been estimated that during
the summer months or rather between June
and November, more than twenty thousand
vessels are constantly engaged in the different
kinds Of fisheries, employing no less than
100000 men. By treaty with Great Britain,
American vessels are allowed the privilege of
fishing within certain limits in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, and the quantity of fish taken from
this place alone is most truly astonishing. The
coast of Newfoundland yields its Goldfish to the
hardy sailor from May until December while
the better class Of mackerel are taken from
August to October Many mackerel, however,
of poorer class, are taken along the Southern
shore of our own country prior to this, but as
little notice. The Bay Of Chaleur along the
coast of Prince Edwards Island the Magdalen
Islands Northum berland Straits, are consider
ed the choicest mackerel grounds Here the
fleet Of vessels congregated at one time. will
often amount to two thousand sail although as
a general thing not more than from two to
four hundred vessels sail in company. At
nights. when the fleet is safely anchored, the
lanterns lighted on each vessel and swung upon
the shrouds, one may fancy they are looking
upon some huge city lying in repose, with its
lamps all trimmed and burning
The bait alone, which is ground up and
thrown to the fish to keep them about the YES
sci, is a very large item in the expense of car
rving on the trade This is either herring
poggies, or clans, well sailed and cleaned, put
up expressly for the purpose. The average
cost of it is about three and half dollars per
barrel, at least two barrels of which are thrown
away per day in good fishing. Allowing at
the time we were in the Gulf there were two
thousand SAIL you then have $4,000 per day
thrown away to the fishes, or say 500 per yes
sci for each trip which is below the actual
amount and we thus have the enormous sum
Of 100000.
The method Of taking the mackerel is very
simple. The vessel is hove to, and men are
arranged on the "windward" side as many as
can conveniently stand from bow to stern.
Each man is provided with four lines only two
of which can be used in fast fishing On each
line is attached the hook, which is sunk into
an oblong bit Of lead called a ''jigp A bar
rel is placed behind each man, into which the
fish are /" snapped as fast as caught, the jaw
tearing out as easily as though made Of paper
Owing to this tenderness of the jaw, the fish
must be hauled very carefully, though with
great rapidly One man stands amidshps,"
throwing the bait which has been carefully
aground" to keep the fish about the vessel,
while the hooks are baited with any tough
substance either pork rnd a bit of silver, or a
piece of the mackerel itself When the fish
bite rapidly, no sport is more exciting, and a
dozen men will often catch from thirty to fifty
barrels in an hour When caught, they are
split, s'gibbed,o scraped, washed in three
waters and then salted--the whole being done
with astonishing CELEBRITY.
The season for mackerel is the fsherman's
holyday. The work is easy healthy and
pleasant--the weather warm, and generally
delightful Two-thirds Of the time is generally
spent in idleness hunting for the fish, and the
sailors lounge about free from care, growing
fat, ragged, and saucy"
Cape Ann and Cape Cod are the greatest
fishing ports of the Union, and at these points
scarcely aught else is heard of than the pros
pect for fish and the state Of the markets
Children scarcely large enough to walk dis
course upon the relative merits Of Goldfish, hall
but. mackerel, &c., with knowing air, and
the male members look forward with joyous
earerness TO the time when, as Skipper Of
some bonnie craft they shall carry death and
destruction to the fnny tribes Of the great
waters.
The sound Of a mackerel "Aapping" upon
deck is the sweetest music to Cape Codman's
ear and Captain Davis, from Gloucester, an
intelligent and capable fisherman, once as
sured us that had Cape Cod skipper been
dead week, only place him upon the deck of
his vessel, and let the mackerel dance about
him, he would at once spring to his feet, stand
to bis lines, yell to his men that the fnackerel
had struck and order them to cup, dogs
and at 'em."
No. / mackerel are eaten about the large
cities: No. 2 sent West and South while No.
being wretchedly poor and unsaleable, are
sent to the West Indies as luxuries for the
slaves
After years of mathematical labor and me-
chancal results, Prof Willis, of Rochester, has
completed and has now in constant operation
a se.f.winding clock, which determines the sec.
onds minutes hours, days. weeks months, and
years, Of time, with unfailing accuracy, contln-
uing in constant motion by itself never requlr-
ing to be wound up never running down, but
moving perpetually so long as its components
exist So says the Rochester Democrat.