Of all the New England Fishing Schooners of the 19th century, probably none was more distinctive and colorful than the Mystic. With its specialized gear, its exacting and carefully-constructed rigging, and the fast, handsome hull this vessel was built for speed. A fishing vessel had to make fast passage with an alert crew constantly searching for the elusive schools of mackerel. Speed was also critical in cleaning and salting the catch since fresh caught mackerel can spoil quickly, and it was important to get the catch to market before any rivals had the chance to lower the prices. The Mystic stood above all of its rivals as the one to catch.