THE FISHERIES. 15 



its glassy surface spread out before the spectator, 

 with its edges fringed by a dark mass of huge 

 forest tress, sweeping to the very brink of the riv- 

 er — with the song of the voyager floating over 

 the smooth and silent waters, may well fill the 

 mind with delightful emotions. 



To show the superior success of our Mackerel 

 fishery over that of Nova Scotia, it is merely ne- 

 cessary to advert to a few facts in relation to the 

 mode and circumstances under which the colonial 

 fishery is carried on. In Nova Scotia, mackerel 

 are taken by seining with great facility. The Sur- 

 veyor General of Lower Canada states in his late 

 interesting work, that 1000 barrels have been ta- 

 ken in a seine at one draught. At the commence- 

 ment of the season, the fisherman obtains permis- 

 sion of the proprietor of the beach to erect his 

 hut and occupy a certain space for his boats and 

 nets, for which he pays, at the end of the season, 

 a certain part of the fish taken. The fishery is 

 usually held in shares, — the owner of the boat 

 and nets taking one part of the proceeds, and the 

 fishermen the remainder. Some of the proprietors 

 receive each 2000 barrels of mackerel annually for 

 the use of their fishing grounds. Notwithstanding 

 these facilities and advantages on the side of the 

 Nova Scotians, the fishermen of New England 

 have entered into the business with great spirit 



