The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-01-10
MACKEREL SCARCE.
These Popular Fish Are Being Caught
In Fewer Numbers Each Sue
ceeding Year.

Mackerel. the leading salt water nsh
of the world, sold everywhere at IL
times, are growing scarcer md
scarcer, while prices are mounting at
a rapid rate.
Every one eats mackerel when he can
get it. In years gone by it was regu-
lar dish on the table of many poor fam
lilies, when there was an abundance of
the fish and low prices prevailed. In
valids and dyspeptics demanded mack
erel because of its appetizing qualities.
Others, who need not search for appe-
tites, enjoyed mackerel simply because
it was delightful fish. The day, how
ever, when the poor man can have
mackerel on his table as regular thing
is past, and this popular dish is rapidly
becoming a rarity.
Wholesale dealers in the city say
that the decrease in the catch from
year TO year has been phenomenal, and
that SO great has the supply fallen off
that II is now impossible to supply the
demand OF the public, which is enor-
nous. The consequence Of this state of
affairs is that the cost of barrel of
mackerel has risen TO many times its
former figure, and many persons have
been obliged to cut 1t off from their
menu. Fifteen years ago, it is stated.
the catch on the American coast alone,
along the Massachusetts, and Name
shores and from some of the provinces,
averaged anywhere from 100000 10
1000 in season. There was then no
need to import mackerel, and dealers
here were sending shipments Of this
popular fish across the waters to the
other side Mackerel sold in those days,
according to size, from three to eight
dollars barrel. Only the fine, large
mackerel brought the latter price.
About ~ years ago the decrease in
supply started. and has not yet been
stopped. The catch of every season for
the last dozen years has been growing
less, until, il is said, the average catch
on the American coast for the last two
years has been only from 10000 to So
600. and the price of mackerel at pres
ent ranges from $50 to S25 barrel.
Since the small catch here has begun
land and Norway have commenced o
be taken in large quantities, although
even with their help the figures of
catches of former years cannot be ap
preached. The Irish fishermen former
ly used to send their fish fresh and un-
salted TO London for sale, but since the
demand in America they have taken to
sailing and curing the fish and ship
ping direct from the Irish shores to
points in the United States. The quar-
ity of the Irish mackerel and their
methods of curing are said to be ex-
cellent, and the fish received from
there are now claimed to be even bet
ter than the New Zealand fish, and far
superior to that of the provinces. The
Irish mackerel also outclass the Nor
way mackerel in the fact that they are
better cured and have brighter color.
No reason for the decrease in mack
erel in American waters has been hit
upon by local fishermen or local fish
dealers. Theories have been advanced.
the most generally accepted of which
is that the falling off in the catch is auc
to the methods of fishing now prevail
ing. In the times of the great plenty OF
mackerel the fishing was done with the
hook and line, but the present method
of catching mackerel is with the seine.
A crew goes out in the ocean with ves-
sci and their huge seine, and makes eff
forts to capture whole schools of the
fish. The result is that fishermen now
report that the mackerel are wild d
most difficult to get around with a
seine. 1t is much harder to make q
catch now than few years back. and
by some it Is claimed the wholesale
seining is the hechiefreasonwhy the catch
has 80 decreased baltimore Sun.