The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-18
THE MACKEREL 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. Ii 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
250,00 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 maokcrel 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
general thing they are deemed worthy Of
little notice. The Bay of Chaleur, along the
coast of Prince Edwards Island, the Magdalen
Islands Northumberland Straits, are consider
ed the choicest mackorcl grounds. Here the
feet of vessels congregatod at one time will
often amount to two thousand sail although as
n general thing not more than from two to
four hundred vessels sail in company. At
nights. when the fleet il safely anchored, the
lanterns lighted ON each vessel and swung upon
the sbrouds 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 ves-
sci. is very large item in the expense of car
rying ON the trade This is either herring,
popeies. or clans, well sailed and cleaned put
M &c expressly for the purpose The average
cost of il il about three and half dollars per
barrel at least two barrels of which are thrown
away Der day in good fishing Allowing at
the lime we were in the Gulf there were two
thousand sail you then have $4,000 per day
thrown away to the fishes, or say 800 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 mackercl is very
simple The vessel il I" hove TO-" and men are
arranged ON the "wndward" side rs many az
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 IN sunk into
an oblong bit Of lead called Jig" bar
rel il placed behind each man, into which the
fish are snapped as fast as caught, the jaw
tearing out al easily as though made Of paper.
Owing to this tenderness Of the jaw, the fish
must be hauled very carefully, though with
great rapidity. One man stands "amidshlps,'
throwing the bait which has been carefully
"ground,p to keep the fish abont the yesSe y
while the hooks are baited with any tough
substance either pork rind, bit Of silver, or
piece of the mackerel itself When the fish