Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission
January to April 1887
Page 66 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION.
THE FISHERIES OF GLOUCESTER, MASS., IN JANUARY, 1887,
WITH NOTES ON THOSE OF OTHER LOCALITIES.
By W. A. WILCOX.
During the month of January only a small portion of the fishing fleet has been actively employed. Receipts have been light, not varying much from those of the corresponding month of one year ago. For several years the new year has opened with a market overstocked with both domestic and imported fish, and prices so low as to scarcely pay the cost of production, but during the present month a largely increased and steady demand has reduced stocks, and prices have slowly advanced.
Since the beginning of the year much rough weather has been encountered, but there have been no serious losses of life or property, and much encouragement is felt in making preparations for the work of 1887.
Bait has been found abundant on the fishing banks, and additional quantities have been supplied from the cargoes of frozen herring brought from Newfoundland and the Bay of Fundy.
A few vessels have followed the fresh halibut fishery on the Grand Bank. These arrived with small fares, and reported much rough weather. The shore fleet has been detained in the harbors adjacent to the fishing grounds a large part of the month, the weather preventing extensive fishing. The Bay of Fundy herring catch has been light. Schooner Ada R. Terry, of Gloucester, arrived on January 5th with a
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cargo of 210,000 frozen herring in number. This was the first cargo landed during the season. Vessels that went to Newfoundland for frozen herring are now arriving with full cargoes and report herring of good size and quality to have been plentiful.
When the weather has been favorable the U. S. Fish Commission schooner Grampus, Captain Collins, has engaged in collecting codfish spawn direct from the fishing grounds near Cape Ann and carrying them to the hatching station at Wood's Holl. She has also brought large quantities of young fish from the hatchery and turned them loose in the in-shore waters. The Grampus and other boats of the U. S. Fish Commission from Wood's Holl have during the season planted about 20,000,000 young codfish in the vicinity of Cape Cod. This branch of the work has been prosecuted with success, the amount of eggs procured and hatched being limited only by the unfavorable weather that has much of the time prevented the taking of eggs on the fishing grounds.
The annual meeting of the Menhaden Oil and Guano Association was held at New York on January 12th. This fishery was formerly extensively prosecuted as far north as the coast of Maine, but is now confined to the coast between Narragansett Bay and North Carolina.
During the past season the fish have been found in abundance and the
members of the association report an average production of oil and
scrap.
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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION.
Page 68
THE FISHERIES OF GLOUCESTER, MASS., IN FEBRUARY, 1887,
WITH NOTES ON THOSE OF OTHER LOCALITIES.
By W. A. Wilcox.
During February the work of another year has been actively entered upon, although a large number of the fishing vessels will not sail until later. The month has been more than usually stormy, and unfavorable for fishing, and on that account the receipts have been below the average. A good and steady demand has called for all fish arriving, and for much of the old stock that was on hand. Prices have been reasonably low, yet enough higher than of late to give much encouragement for the future. This feeling of confidence is indicated by the renewal of work at the formerly deserted shipyards in Essex and Gloucester, where fifteen new fishing vessels and one whaler are now building. On George's cod and halibut have been scarce, the receipts being much below the average. In Ipswich Bay cod of large size and fine quality have been abundant, both the trawl and net fishermen obtaining good catches, although comparatively few nets were employed.
Herring have not been as abundant as usual in the Bay of Fundy. The catch has been short all the winter, and as a result fewer vessels have been engaged. At Fortune Bay, Newfoundland, and vicinity, herring have been very plentiful. The only vessels from the United States that engaged in the Newfoundland herring trade were from Gloucester. One vessel is frozen in at one of the harbors, but the others have secured full fares and most of them have already returned.
With the close of the month the time is near for the early catch of mackerel to receive attention, and for vessels to begin preparation for their southern trips. The close season mackerel bill has been passed: and signed. This bill goes into effect in 1888, and continues in force five years. This is, therefore, the last season for some time that any mackerel vessels can begin fishing before June, and no mackerel caught before that date by foreign vessels can be imported. The coasting schooner, S. M. Bird, at Philadelphia, from the South, reported having seen numerous schools of mackerel during the month, in latitude 33°' 49 minutes, longitude 76° 50 minutes. As none were caught by the crew of the vessel, there is no positive proof that the schools seen were mackerel, and the Gloucester fishermen think they were some other species.
During the month three fine vessels from Gloucester have been reported lost. The schooner Carthage, 67.27 tons, sailed from the homeport November 30, 1886, bound for George's Bank, and a fare of codfish. She has not been heard from since, and, with her crew of twelvemen, has at last been given up. She was insured in home office for $3,403 on vessel, and $1,000 on outfits.
The schooner Ocean King 75.81 tons, sailed from Gloucester on a halibut trip January 18. A few days later, while at anchor on St. Peter's Bank, she encountered a
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severe storm; everything on deck that was movable was washed overboard; the rudder was damaged, and soon the vessel became wholly unmanageable. From January 22 till February 9 the vessel drifted a floating wreck. When near Sable Island she was discovered by the fishing schooner C. B. Manning, and with much difficulty the crew was rescued, after which the vessel was set on fire. The schooner Phil Sheridan, 93.68 tons, sailed from Gloucester February 23, bound for George's Bank. Two days later, in latitude 42 degrees 06', longitude 66 degrees 50', she encountered a severe gale, and while hove to was struck by a heavy sea and thrown on her beam ends, and the masts and sails and the nine dories were carried away. The vessel soon righted, but was a complete wreck.
Schooner Dido, of Gloucester, took it in tow for six hours, but was then obliged to turn it adrift, owing to the rough seas. On the 27th of the month the steamer Peconic, Captain Evans, master, from Messina, fell with the wreck 120 miles from Boston Light, and took the crew off and carried them to Boston. The vessel was set on fire before leaving. The master and crew express heartfelt thanks to the officers of the former for their kindness.The schooner was insured for $6,037, and outfit for $500.
Such, in brief, is the account of the loss of three fine fishing vessels, one with all hands. How and when it was lost will probably never be known. The crews of the other two vessels suffered severely from cold, hunger, and exposure, but after a few days of rest these same men could once more be found on other fishing vessels bound for the distant fishing-banks. No disasters or suffering appear to have a check on the following the fisheries, or in any manner frighten them from the dangers of winter fishing on the distant banks in mid-ocean. Men are always ready to man the vessels, and seem much more anxious to go than the owners of the vessels are to send them during the winter.
Fish landed at Gloucester by the fishing fleet in February, 1887.
NOTE: The miscellaneous receipts from other ports during the month consisted of 700 barrels of
d from Halifax, Nova Scotta.
These fish were landed by the following vessels: Schooner Flora Temple, of Portland, Me.;
schooner Grace Choate, of Portsmouth, N. H.; schooner Eliza, of Marblehead, Mass., and schooners Clara Grimes, Edith Conley, and Estelle S. Nunan, of Rockport, Mass.
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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION.
Page 70
THE FISHERIES OF GLOUCESTER, MASS. MARCH, 1887, WITH
NOTES ON THOSE OF OTHER LOCALITIES.
By W. A. WILCOX
During a large part of the month the weather was so stormy as to seriously interfere with fishing, and many vessels lost anchors, cables, and deck-gear, but they escaped serious disaster.
The leading receipts of the month have been cod, halibut, and frozen herring. On George's Bank cod and halibut have been scarce; old fish- ermen report then. more so than for twenty-five years, but the decreased receipts are accounted for, in part at least, by the weather, which was unfavorable for fishing. In Ipswich Bay a fleet of sixty sail has found codfish both abundant and large in size. The fish were mostly taken with trawls, the largest catches being made where the trawls were most numerous; the thousands of baited trawls apparently attracting the fish.
Halibut receipts were mostly from 18 to 20 miles ENE. of Sable Island. These grounds have of late years been seldom visited by American fishermen, but fish were recently found plentiful there, about two-thirds of the catch being white halibut. The few vessels fishing on the Grand Bank have had a moderate catch of halibut, though they met with much drift ice, which in many cases carried away their trawls. Fish from this locality averaged only one-half white.
The Western Bank codfish fleet have begun to sail for the fishing- grounds. A. larger proportion than usual will fish with hand-lines and salt-clam bait, instead of using trawls and fresh bait, as formerly. By this means they will avoid the necessity of visiting any foreign port except for wood, water, shelter, or repairing damages. It is reported that about 7,000 barrels of clam bait have been sold to provincial fishermen by dealers in Maine.
Fourteen sail of cod-fishermen are reported as having started for the Western Bank from Booth Bay and Southport, Me. Provincetown will this season have a reduced fleet engaged in the cod and mackerel fisheries, as a number of the vessels have been sold, some of them having left the country and no new ones have been added. That port during the month has had twenty-two vessels engaged in catching fresh fish for the Boston market.
The schooner Grampus, of the U. S. Fish Commission, has done good work in gathering codfish eggs for the hatchery at Wood's Holl, and in turning loose the young fry. Much time has been lost by rough weather yet the millions of eggs gathered, hatched, and turned out into the waters of Massachusetts Bay may reasonably be expected to produce good results in the future. Her work in this line for the season ends with March, as she is to go south to meet and follow the mackerel,
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alewife, bluefish, and other migratory fish, concerning which much important information is yet to be obtained.
The spring mackerel fleet have been actively engaged in making ready for the work of the season. The first vessel to start, the schooner Mayflower, sailed from Gloucester on March 11, and was followed during the month by the steamer Novelty and 38 other mackerel vessels hailing from Maine and Massachusetts ports. Up to the close of the month no mackerel have been caught or seen.
A few vessels from Gloucester will go to Flemish Cap for codfish, but probably none will visit the Greenland coast this year. The Gloucester schooners Davy Crockett and Arthur D. Story sailed on halibut trips to the coast of Iceland on March 23, followed, two days later, by the Annie M. Jordan. The schooner Concord will soon sail for the same locality. No other American fishing vessels are expected to visit Iceland during the season.
Fish landed at Gloucester by the fishing fleet in March, 1887.
NOTE. The miscellaneous receipts from other ports during the month consisted of 1,000 boxes smoked herring,1,850 quintals hake, 100 quintals cod, 25 quintals haddock, 25 quintals cusk, and 21 barrels fish oil firom Maine, and 1,675 barrels fish-oil from Tiverton, R. L
" These fish were landed by the following schooners: Venue, of Eastport, Me. • A. C. Newhall, of New Castle, N. H. • Franklin 9. Schenck and Mary S. Hontvet, of Portsmouth, N.H. ; E. A. Williams of Boston, Mass; Mary E. Story, of Swampscott, Mass.; and Clara R. Grimes, Estelle S. Nunan, and Edith Conley, of Rockport, Mass.
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NOTES ON THE FROZEN HERRING TRADE WITH THE BAY OF FUNDY DURING THE WINTER OF 1886-87.
By W.A. Wilcox
The Bay of Fundy frozen herring business during the past winter has been much below the average. Herring were scarce much of the time, and the business was more or less restricted by our fishery com plications with the Provinces. The following table gives the quantities brought by Gloucester vessels:
After touching and reporting at Gloucester, a few of these vessels proceeded to Boston and disposed of their fish for bait and food, though the larger portion was sold at Gloucester for bait.
The cargoes mentioned in the above table constituted the bulk of the receipts by American sailing vessels from the Bay of Fundy, though the schooners Venus and Flora Wooster, of Eastport, brought 320,000 and 53,000, respectively, and the Charles H. Kelley, of Boston, brought 160,000. The fish brought by the first-named vessels were obtained at Saint George, and those by the last-named from Grand Manan. In addition to those brought by sailing craft, large quantities of frozen herring were shipped by rail and steamer from Eastport and other fishery centers, to the principal markets of the New England and Middle States.
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Page 73
THE FISHERIES OF GLOUCESTER, IN APRIL, 1887,
WITH NOTES ON THOSE OF OTHER LOCALITIES.
By W. A. WILCOX.
Although April is a spring month, the weather has much resembled that of midwinter, with heavy falls of snow occurring so late as the 18th. The cold weather and frequent storms have considerably delayed the vessels in beginning their season's work. During the month comparatively few Gloucester vessels have been employed, these fishing mostly on George's Bank and off Cape Ann, though a small fleet has fished on the Western Bank for cod and halibut.
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During the recent severe gales a number of vessels have found it desirable to use oil in breaking the force of the seas. This practice is growing in favor among the Gloucester fishermen, and at least one vessel claimed to have been saved in this way during the month. This vessel, the schooner Willie M. Stevens, while on her homeward passage, encountered a heavy gale and came to anchor off Cashe's Ledge. Her anchor failed to hold, and it was by the use of oil that she was enabled to prevent the seas from breaking over her.
Codfish have been scarce on George's and Western Banks, and the vessels from these localities have, with few exceptions, returned with, small fares. On the shore-grounds off Cape Ann and in Ipswich Bay, however, they have been very abundant. This abundance has been especially noticeable on the fishing grounds, 3 to 5 miles southeast from Eastern Point, where cod of large size and fine quality are reported to have been more plenty, than for years. During the greater part of the month the vessels fishing in that locality have had large catches.
Some of these vessels, with crews of ten men, have left the harbor for the fishing grounds in the early morning and returned before dark with from 12,000 to 15,000 pounds of codfish, while the dory fishermen have frequently caught from 800 to 1,000 pounds per day. On these grounds trawls and hand-lines were employed, the bulk of the fish being taken by the trawl fishermen. In Ipswich Bay trawls, hand-lines, and gillnets were used, but by the 25th of the month most of the nets were laid aside. The large catch in the in-shore waters has offset to a considerable extent the light receipts from the distant banks, thus bringing the total receipts for the month nearly up to those of April, 1886.
During the winter of 1878-79, the United States Fish Commission began the propagation of codfish at Gloucester, hatching out several millions of young cod, which were placed in the waters near Eastern Point, and the unusual abundance of fish on these grounds is by many attributed to the stocking of these waters by the Fish Commission at that time.
Owing to the cold and backward spring, the mackerel fleet have been considerably delayed in starting for the southern fishing grounds, but at the end of the month fifty-two vessels from Gloucester and other ports had sailed. The schooner Grampus, of the United States Fish Commission, sent out to study the habits of the mackerel, is reported as having taken the first fish, these being obtained on April 8, in gillnets, about 50 miles east from Cape Charles. The schooner Caroline Vaught, of Boothbay, was the first to land fresh mackerel in New York. She secured about 10,000 medium-sized fish 50 miles east of Hog Island, in lat. 37 degrees 20' N., and long. 74 degrees 30' West. on April 21, this locality being nearly identical with that where mackerel were first taken in 1886.
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Between 1876 and 1880 no mackerel were taken by the southern fleet prior to April 2, the first catches being, respectively, on the 25th, 26th 6th 13th, and 2d of that month. From 1881 to 1885, inclusive, the first catches were made in March, these being obtained in 1881 on 22nd, in the three following years on the 31st, and in 1885 on the 28th. Last year the first fish were seined on the 10th of April.
The vessels fishing on George's during the present month have reported finding several good-sized mackerel in the stomachs of the codfish At its last session Congress passed a bill prohibiting the landing or importation of mackerel caught prior to June 1. This bill goes into effect next season, and continues in operation for five years. This is, therefore, the last season for some time during which the spring mackerel fishing can be prosecuted.
During the month numerous traps and weirs have been put in fishing order along various portions of the New England coast, these being intended to supply the vessel-fishermen with bait, although many will ship their catch fresh to be used for food.
The receipts of halibut have been much below those of April, 1886; those landed at Gloucester being chiefly from the fishing grounds off Sable Island. Halibut are also reported to have been quite abundant off Nantucket Shoals.
Fish landed at Gloucester by the fishing fleet in April, 1887.
*The miscellaneous receipts from other ports, during the month consisted of 1,000 barrels menhaden oil from Niantic, Conn