Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-02-26
Fisheries of the United States,


Hunts Merchants Magasine for February,
contains No. of series of able and interest,"
ing articles upon the Fisheries of the United
States, which gives an interesting description
of the details of the cod and mackerel fishery.
The Goldfish is said to be an inhabitant of cold
waters, though not choosing the coolest, and
being found also, in small numbers, under
small temperatures. It's principal resort on The
coast ot the American continent, is the region
lying within The 10th and extending beyond
the 50ih degree of north Iati,nde and EN-.
braced within the 50lh and 65,h degrees OF
West longitude. The most celebrnted of the
grounds within these limits are the Grand
Bank of Newfoundland and the Northern
coast of Labrador. The latter is a vast, cold,
desert region, peopled only by EsguinaIx,
the most dminutive aud degraded of the
human race. The Grand Bank is from 400
to 600 miles in length, about 200 miles wide
IN The widest part, and is covered by depth
OF % to 95 tathoms of walter. OF late years,
this ground has been abandoned by the Eng
lish, who formerly had ap extensive fishery
there, to the French and Americans. The
mackerel travels over large portion of the
ground visited by The cod, but prelerring a
moderately cool temperature. il goes farther
South and less distance North.
The vessels employed as mackerelmen
average from 40 to 90 tons. and those des-
tined for the long voyage take their depar-
tnre about June. Most Of these visi, the
Bay Chaleur. an arm from the Gulf of ST..
Lawrence, and the distance trnversed in
going there is from 1000 to 1900 miles.
In passing through the Gut of Canso light
duty is exac'ed by the Colonial Govern
ment. The fish taken in these parts are
usnally faiier and much preferable to those
taken in Massachusetts Bay; the catch is
generally larger in The same period. and of
course the profits much better. The outfit
OF these vessels Tor season Of three or 10 ur
MONTHS COSTS several hundred dollars. The
heaviest iem, are for salt aud barrels. The
number oil men carried is from five TO elev.
en-seven being about the average number
In fitting ont a vessel for cohfishiny no bar
rels are taken, but larger quantity of salt,
and the number of hands varies from nine To
thirteen. The work is much more labori-
ous than inackerel tisliing-t!Ie hands having
often 10 labor good portion of the nigh, as
we'll as during The day. Many you'll who
has had his head filled with romantic ''Sto-
ries of the Sea- and who may hnve run
away from lin his estimation) a tyranncal
guardian or hard apprenticeship, gets cured
OF all notions Of a sailors life, by voyage
10 Lahrador The codfsllng vessels leave
about the first of May, and return near the
first of September.
Besides the quantity OF fish, the oil taken
from The cod forms considerable item in
the business. About one hogslIead of oil is
produced from every one hundred quintals
OF fish. 1t has been estimated hat !he alian.
try Of Goldfish taken averages one hundred
qnin,als per man. but this writer thinks that
Fifty qIintals would be found nearer the av-
ernge at the present time.
Massachusetts owns more than one half oil
all the tonnage engaged in the cod fishery.
and above three -fourtIls of that of the mack
rreI fishery. The people of Maine, notwith.
standing their superior advantages, have ms
yet almost wholly neg elected the latter branch
The towns nt present in the lead in the cod
fishery are the following ranking in the Or
der named; Gloucester and Barnstal,ie, ia
Massachusetts; Pen0bscot AMI Waljoboro,
in Maine; Plymouth, Mass: Wiscasset
Maine; Beverly, Mass. Frenchman's Bay
and Bath, Maine; Newburyport, Massnchu.
sets; Portland, Me; and Marblehead Mass
The towns leading in the mackereI fisher,
are Barnstable. Gloucester and Newhury.
port, Mass. Portland, Me-; Salem, Mass
and Penolscot. Maine. Tnking both fisher
les 10 connection, the Leading towns (tha, i;
the cI,ief fishing towns of the United States
are BArnstabe and G Gloucester Mass Pc
nohscot, Me :; NewburvporI, Mass. Waldo
boro', Wiscasset, and Portland, Me-, ant
Beverly Mass.