Fisheries of the Gulf of St. Law?'ence. 99 



If a market should be found for this description of Fish, they 

 could be furnished to an unlimited extent. 



The common Flounder (Platessa plana of Mitchel,) is found in 

 such abundance in the Gulf, that it is used largely for manuring 

 land. The writer has seen Potatoes being planted in hills, when 

 the only dressing consisted of Fresh Flounders, which were used 

 with a lavish hand. They are seldom taken by the inhabitants of 

 the Gulf Shore, who can readily obtain so many other descriptions 

 of Fish of superior quality. The Flounder is long lived out of the 

 water, and bears land carriage better than most Fish ; there is no 

 reason therefore, why Flounders should not become a valuable 

 commodity. 



That the varied, extensive, and most abundant Fisheries of the" 

 Gulf of Saint Lawrence, would be greatly influenced by the con- 

 struction of a Railway along the Eastern Coast of New Brunswick, 

 there cannot be a reasonable doubt ; but in all probability the pro- 

 posed Railway from Shediac to the Harbour of Saint John, would 

 affect those Fisheries in an equal, if not a greater degree. 



The hardy and enterprising Fisherman (m the Bay of Fundy, 

 dread the long and dangerous voyage around the whole Peninsula 

 of Nova Scotia, to the fishing grounds of the Gulf, a voyage which 

 frequently lasts three weeks, and is deemed by Underwriters equally 

 hazardous with a voyage to Europe ; but it is not alone the dangers 

 of the voyage which deters them from the prosecution of these 

 Fisheries ; it is the great loss of time they occasion, and the expense 

 they create, as these render the adventure, too often, far from 

 profitable. 



A Railway from Shediac to the Port of Saint John, which is 

 open at all seasons of the year, would enable the various products 

 of the Fisheries to reach a Port of shipment in four hours, and the 

 necessity for the long voyage around Nova Scotia would be wholly 

 obviated. The fishing vessels could winter at any of the Ports on 

 the Gulf Shore which they found most convenient ; their stores 

 and outfit could be sent up by Railway ; and they would, in such 

 case, enjoy the advantage of being on the fishing grounds at the 

 earliest moment in the spring, and the Fisherman could protract 

 his labours until the winter had again fairly set in. 



The fresh Salmon, packed in ice, which were sent last season, 

 from Saint John to Boston by the steamers, owing to the facilities 

 of transport in the United States, in three days after they left 

 Saint John, appeared at table, in prime condition, at Albany, Bui- 



