64 



utters similnr sentiments. His renowned hero, "Sam Slick," the Yan- 

 kee clocktnaker, in the course of" his *' sayings," thus speaks of the 

 people of Nova Scotin, and of their advantages : "They "do nothing in 

 these parts," saj's Sam, " but eat, drink, smoke, sleep, ride about, 

 lounge at taverns. * * * They are a most idle set of Ibiks, I tell 

 you. * * * They are in the midst of fisheries, squire ; all sorts of 

 fisheries, too. River fisheries of shad, salmon, gasperause and herring ; 

 shore fishery of mackerel and cod ; bank fishery, and Labradore fish- 

 ery. Oil dear! it beats all; and they don't do nolhin with 'em, but 

 leave 'em to us. * * * I never seed nor heerd tell of a country 

 that had so many natural privileges as this. Why, there are twice as 

 many harbors and water-powers as we have all the way from Eastport 

 to New Orleans. Tliey have all they can ax, and more than they de- 

 sarve. * * * You've heerd tell of a man who couldn't see London 

 for the houses ; I tell you, if tee had this country you couldn't see the 

 harbors for the ship[)ing." 



The cod-fishery of the shores differs so little from the shore fisheries 

 at Newfoundland, St. Pierre, and Miquelon, already spoken of, that we 

 shall not here give an account of it. The vessel fishery, both on the 

 coasts of Nova Scotia and at Labradore,* is also so nearly like our own, 

 that a description of it may be omitted to avoid repetition. 



7-^he herring fishery wdll detain us but a moment. The export of 

 smoked-herring has declined very much. Towards the close of the 

 last century the quantity shipped was from 50,000 to 60,000 boxes 

 annually. In some j'cars, too, previous to 1819, tlie export was even 

 more, and from 80,000 to 100,000 boxes. At present the average is 

 less than half the quantity of either period. The natural advantages 

 possessed by the colonists of the shores of "Annapolis basin" are 

 unequalled in the whole world. Digby and Clements should be the 



* A Halifax paper, in the spring of 1852, indulged in the following course of remark: "We 

 learn that no less than twenty-five vessels cleared at this port for the Labrador fishery on Sat- 

 urday last. We have been much gratified with the improved appearance of the schooners 

 compiiwng our fishing fleet this season. The class of Nova Scotiamen at present engaged in 

 the fisheries v.'onld do credit to any country in the world, our enterprising and energetic neigh- 

 bors, the Americana, not excepted. Where all arc desen'ing of praise, it vrould a]>pear almost 

 invidious to particularize ; but we must not omit to chronicle a very superior craft which we 

 observe receiving her supply of salt alongside the brig ' Wellington,' at Oxley's wharf, called 

 the ' Ocean Wave.' This fine vessel was recently lamiched at Jiunenburg by a Mr. Young, 

 and was built expressly for the fishing business. She appears to have been most carefully 

 cou,stnicted, and her outfit is after the most approved fiishion. There is a reasonable i)roba- 

 bility of this ujost iuipt»rtant branch of provincial industry proving eminently successful during 

 the present st^a.^on; and ivc can only iiope that the desideratum may be realized to its fullest 

 extent, (^ur fisliiug friends camuit be t^)0 careful in curing their catch. 'J'iic uuirkets for 

 their valuable products are extending on every hand. It is essential that tlie character of this, 

 on. staple artic'-" ^f export, sliould be established beyond the shadow of a doubt. Due attea 

 tiun to this ma,ttei will repay our fishermen a hundred fold fi>r any extra time, labor, or 

 attention bestowed on the making of their fish. Let all interested look to this all-important 

 juatter, and a rich luirvest ni.-iy be reaped in the future. It is satisfactory to know tliat the 

 parties who have this season fitted out for the fisheries are, nuuu of them, both fiirehanded 

 and intelligent (jualificatiens iudi.spcnsable iu the successful prosecutionoftliis valuable bnmch 

 uf industry." 



In August, 1S52, it was again said that, "We are enabled to record the gratifying intelli- 

 gence, that of twenty-seven vessels fitted out from ports in Lunenburg county for the Liibra- 

 dor, twenty-six have retui'ued well fished — one vessel bringmg home the hauilsome fare of 

 l,10t) quintals. This almost unprecedented success is perhaps, iu a great measure, attributa- 

 ble to the vigilance of the revenue cutters stationed on the coast by the Canadian government 

 or the protection of the fisheries." 



