20 FISHING GROUNDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



winter, while the provincials and French fish here for cod only in the sinnnier. Much better cod- 

 grounds, however, lie nearer the coasts of the States. 



Mackeeel Grounds. — No positive rules can be laid down as to the appearance of mackerel 

 on the several grounds of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Formerly, when these grounds were largely 

 resorted to by vessels from New England, the fishing was principally carried on in the early part 

 of the season (June and July) north of Prince Edward's Island and between there and Cape Gasp6. 

 This section embraced the " West Shore" from Escuminac to Point Miscou, the Bay of Chaleur, 

 Bradelle Bank, Orphan Bank, and the adjacent waters. Later in the season, August and Septem- 

 ber, the vessels generally visited the waters along the north side of Prince Edward's Island and 

 about the Magdalen Islands. During some years, however, the fishing was continued on the first- 

 mentioned ground throughout the entire summer. As the sea.son advanced, mackerel were generally 

 found in the greatest abundance in the extreme southern parts of the Gulf, especially about 

 the eastern'iioint of Prince Edward's Island, the north side of Cape Breton Island, in Saint George's 

 Bay, and also about the Magdalen Islands. The principal points where good catches were usually 

 obtained on the coast of Cape Breton were in the vicinity of Sea Wolf Island and Cheticamp Island. 

 These places were generally the last visited in the fall. As a rule, when the mackerel were found 

 here at all they occurred in great abundance; but when the schools left this region they were rarely 

 seen again the same season. Mackerel have also been taken in great numbers along the east coast 

 of Caije Breton Island, between the entrance to Great Bras d'Or Lake and Flint Island, and good 

 catches have been obtained there from July until late in October. Their appearance in this region 

 has not always been regular, however, and a season of great abundance is often followed by one 

 of extreme scarcity. 



Although the movements of mackerel in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the summer and 

 fall months are about as has been described above, they are subject to certain variations at 

 different periods, and it occasionally hapi^ens that good fares are obtained about the north shore 

 of Prince Edward's Island early in the season. Again, this locality may furnish the best fishing 

 during August and September one year, and the next year mackerel may be scarce there though 

 very abundant in other portionsof the Gulf. The appearance of large bodies of mackerel in the 

 different localities is doubtless much influenced by the a]^ndance of food, the direction and sti;ength 

 of the prevailing winds, and by other causes not so well understood. 



In exceptional instances, fares of mackerel have been obtained at the" Seven Islands, arid 

 Mingan Islands, on the southern coist of Labrador, and also at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence 

 River, from Cape Chatte to Cape Gaspd. On one occasion, at least, a fare was also obtained at Port 

 an Port, on (he west coast of Newfoundland. These catches, with the exception of the last named, 

 were obtained chiefly by the crews in boats, either with hooks and lines or with seines, while the 

 vessels lay at anchor in the harbors. 



The vessels visiting Ihe northern fishing-grounds were usually provided with a number of 

 dories, and, after the schooners were securely moored, the men would start out at daylight in the 

 boats, trying for mackerel in the coves and along the shores where the vessels could not be taken. 

 As the mackerel were secured they were carried on board the schooners, dressed and salted. 



The fishing grounds of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, though a favorite resort for mackerel 

 catchers when this fishery was carried on exclusively with hook and line, are not well adapted 

 to the use of purse-seines, which are the principal apparatus now employed in the capture of 

 mackerel. The localities to which they usually resort are too shallow for purse-seines, and, again, 

 the mackerel appear less frequently at the surface in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence than oiV the 

 coast of the United States, and though tlicy iniiy occur at the former ]ilace in large numbers, 



