454 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



with Germany, which caused the withdrawal of a large por- 

 tion of the industrial poiDulation from their peaceful pursuits, 

 and particularly affected those connected with the fisheries. 

 Thus, while in 1870 there were 101,594 men employed in 

 17,833 vessels of 150,127 tons' burden, there were, in 1871, 

 110,486 men in 18,407 vessels of 142,774 tons. The decrease 

 in the tonnage in 1871 was due to the smaller number of 

 large vessels in the Newfoundland and Iceland trade. There 

 was an equally gratifying difference in the value of the fish- 

 eries for 1871, as compared with those of 1870; the amount 

 being $13,978,451 for the one, and $11,975,460 for the other, 

 or a difference of $2,002,991 in favor of the latter year. 



An exceptional cause of the increase in value of the fish- 

 eries, in 1871, is to be found in the unusual abundance and 

 much greater yield of herring, due in part to the wider field 

 of operations and new processes in their capture. The sar- 

 dine fishery, too, was greatly augmented in 1871 over that 

 of 1870. The cod-fisheries on the coast of Newfoundland 

 and Iceland were less extensive in 1871 than in 1870. 



The following statement shows the number of persons en- 

 srao-ed in the sea-fisheries of France durinsj 1871 : In the cod- 

 fisheries of Newfoundland there were employed 6014 persons, 

 and in those of Iceland, 3847 ; those engaged in fisheries on 

 the coast of France were 60,635 ; those depending upon fish- 

 ing for a livelihood, 39,361 ; foreign fishermen on the French 

 coast, 629; making the total of 110,486. Eeviie Ifaritime et 

 ColoniaU^ December^ 1872. 



LAWS REGULATING THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES. 



In view of the possible danger of extermination of the seals 

 on the coast of Labrador, which now furnish so imj^ortant a 

 resource to the inhabitants of Newfoundland, the Legislature 

 of the Colony has lately enacted a law providing that no 

 steamer shall leave for the seal-fisheries, nor take any seals 

 on board, before the tenth day of March, under a penalty of 

 $2000 ; and that no sailing-vessel shall leave port for the fish- 

 eries, nor take any seals on board, before the fifth day of 

 March, under a penalty of $400. It is also provided that no 

 property, nor right of property, shall be acquired by persons 

 engaged in or prosecuting the seal-fishery, either in seals 

 captured and killed, and left on the ice or in the water, not 



