Ports.

New England fleet catch of codfish, as reported to the Boston fish bureau (1880).

Foreign

receipts.

Total.

Foreign

receipts.

Total.

Domestic

receipts.

Foreign

receipts.

Total.

Ports.

Ports.

New England fleet catch of codfish, as reported to the Boston fish bureau (1880)—Cont'd.

New England catch of mackerel; amount of inspected barrels packed at home ports, as reported to the Boston fish bureau (1880).

Total.

Ports.

New England catch of mackerel; amount of inspected barrels packed at home ports, as reported to the Boston fish bureau (1880)—Continued.

The shore fleet mentioned above are only the vessels that fished nowhere else; to which may be added the Southern and North Bay fleets after they returned from their unsuccessful cruise in those waters, making the total shore fleet 342 sail.

Receipts of fish by Boston dealers from foreign and domestic ports, 1880.

January. February.

Alewives

..do..

Salmon

.do..

70

Mackerel

barrels..

Mackerel, Boston fleet,

inspected, barrels..

117 3,576 709 3,947 331 2,012 184

Herring........ .barrels.. 3,815 1,031)

༣ :༤

894 1,097 3, 360

774

107 445

.barrels.. 4,166 8, 222 10, 158 14, 891 9, 412 19, 713 4, 934 30, 033 2, 425 11, 532 1,701 5,205

Mackerel, Boston fleet,

inspected, barrels..

Home

ports.

Foreign

ports.

Home

ports.

Foreign

ports.

Home

ports.

Foreign

ports.

Home

ports.

Foreign

ports.

Home

ports.

Foreign

Herring,smoked,..boxes.. 23, 350 25, 500 14, 400 27, 245 26, 836 6, 465 62,227 Bloaters, smoked ...do. 384

6, 437 42, 471 18, 126 26, 392 3,319 4,711 .quintals.. 9,859 4,726 10, 212 7,381 7,523 6, 451 26, 074 5, 984 9,914 3,247 16, 061 914 .do.... 1,026) 4,541 1,143 4,717 1,501 9,576 1,854 2,029 2, 214 1,880 2,450 .do.... 651 20 615 585 334 2.486! 154 1,012 90 529 95 810 275 272 195 316 200 603 30 150 575 12 340 646

991

Receipts of fish by Boston dealers from foreign and domestic ports-Continued.

Massachusetts catch of mackerel for seventy-seven years, 1804-1880.

1867. 1868.

1869.

1870.

1871.

1872.

1873.

1874.

1875.

1876.

1877.

1878.

1879. 1880..

Massachusetts catch of mackerel for seventy-seven years, 1804-1880-Continued.

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOSTON FISH BUREAU, JANUARY, 1882.

NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES.

Of the numerous industries of New England that of the fisheries is no doubt the oldest, and possesses much of historic and present interest to others than those particularly engaged in it. At numerous times much has been written of it, yet its history, particularly the statistical portion, is much broken, many of the old records having been destroyed, with no copies in existence. As early as 1618 we find the abundance of fish in the waters of Massachusetts Bay had attracted attention in Europe. The Pilgrims going from Leyden to England in that year to solicit consent of King James to their going to America, the King inquired, "What profit might arise?" The brief reply was simply "Fishing,' to which King James responded, "So God have my soul, 'tis an honest trade; 'twas the Apostles' own calling." The request was granted. To the fisheries the credit is given of saving the infant colony from starvation. That the first free schools were supported with an income from the fisheries; that the Government has always recognized the patriotism, bravery, and important services rendered the Navy in time of need by the fishermen, are all matters well known. With the growth of the country nearly all the seaport towns had quite large fleets engaged in fishing, with numerous vessels engaged in foreign trade, of which fish products formed a large proportion. For many generations the business was carried on in its primitive way with no marked change until quite recently.

Of late years many new industries have sprung up that in size far surpass that of the fisheries. A large number of ports have given up the business, others have but few vessels. The business is gradually being concentrated to a few ports, the export business (with the exception of an occasional cargo) confined to Boston.

Although fewer ports and smaller fleets are engaged at present, the business continues of importance, with probably as many fish caught at present as at any previous time.

The many new ways of preparing the catch for the market give employment ashore to a large number of persons, the increased facilities for a catch making good any decrease in the number of vessels, with fully as many persons employed afloat and ashore as at any previous time with twice as many sail.

Before turning to the present, it may be of interest to note a few of the changes and contrast the past with the present.

In the past, as at the present time, Boston was known as the chief port of distribution for all varieties of salt-water fish found in New England or provincial waters. Here in olden time the fishermen came with their products, selling the same to the grocers, or from the vessels to be taken inland by teams that came from Vermont, New Hampshire, and other parts of the country loaded with grain, pork, and other provisions. Dry fish was handled loose or tied up in bundles, while mackerel and other pickled fish were shipped in barrels, halves, or quarters. For many years the catch was made in the most primitive manner, for cod and other ground fish the hook and hand line only being used; the mackerel catch was taken by the gaff or by "drailing," the latter mode by having poles suspended from the side of the vessel with hook and line attached, the vessel being under sail or no catch was made;