4f]0 BULLETIN or THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



from the Bay of Fundj^ round the southern part, around the coasts of 

 Cape Breton, Kew Brunswick, and Prince E(hyard Ishind, embrace the 

 Bay of Chaleurs and the Gaspe coast, and extend to the island of Anti- 

 costi, the Labrador, and the Magdalen Islands, and along this coast the 

 cod, the herring, the mackerel, the lobster, and numerous other fisheries 

 of less importance .are carried on successfully. 



The COD-FISHERY.^-Last year the^atch amounted to 1,611,580 quin- 

 tals, valued at $0,360,000, adding to which cod souuds and cod oil to 

 the value of $225,555, we have a total, as the value of the cod-fishery last 

 year of $0,591,555, divided as follows: 



2^"ova Scotia $3, 977, 599 



Quebec 1, 778, 290 



New Brunswick 716, 496 



Prince Edward Island 119, 170 



Total 6,591,555 



And in this sum is not included the quantity consumed by the twenty 

 thousand families engaged in this industry. The cod-fishing season 

 varies somewhat in the different provinces, but may be said generally 

 to be from April to November inclusive. Some interesting particulars 

 are given as to the mode of carrying on the cod-fishing, especially as to 

 the catching of the caplin as bait, it being stated, as illustrating the 

 immense shoals of caplin that fill the bays, "that a man standing in- 

 shore, with a casting net, will often fill a cart in less than an hour; with 

 small seines a couple of men can fill a small boat in about the same 

 time." These caplin are of considerable commercial value. On tlie dis- 

 appearance of the caplin about the end of June, the lauuce, the herring, 

 the mackerel; the squid, the smelt, the clam, &c., are used as bait. The 

 cod being mostly taken by hand lines and set lines, the cost of bait is 

 great, being estimated at one-fourth the value of the cod taken. AVith 

 the view of decreasing this proportion, the example of Norway, v.here 

 the gill net is largely used in the cod-fishery, is recommended to beiol- 

 lowed. It is found to be much more profitable than fishing with set 

 lines or bultows. The cod-fishing is carried on in Canada either in 

 vessels of a tonnage of from 00 to 100 tons on the Great Banks or 

 in open boats at a few miles from the shores. Vessels employ.'-d in 

 the fishery are manned by from ten to thirteen men, the owner of the 

 schooner, who also supplies all necessary fishing tackle, receiving half 

 the catch. In Quebec and Prince Edward Island the fishing is carried 

 on chiefly in open boats, and hence at great disadvantage, so much so 

 that the reports show a noticeable diijiinutiou in the quantity of fish 

 caught in the Province of Quebec during recent years, a fact which 

 induces Mr. Joncas to urge very strongly improvements in fishing ves- 

 sels and gear, and the abandonment of the vicious supplying system by 

 which advances in food and clothing are made to the fishermen at the 



