35 



undertake the protection of fisheries more liberally than it 

 had done. The remarks which had fallen from Mr. Fryer in 

 many points were exceedingly good, but coming as he did 

 from a far off country, where the protection and production of 

 fish was advocated very largely, he regretted that the Paper 

 had not touched on that subject. He did not recollect a 

 syllable was mentioned with regard to protection or produc- 

 tion of fish, but that was one of the most prominent features 

 in connection with the requirements of the fisheries. In 

 Canada there was a Minister of Marine and Fisheries whose 

 duty it was to look after this important work. Previous to 

 the confederation of the Provinces each Province had some 

 sort of law for the protection of the fisheries, but they were 

 so abortive as to prove useless. At the time of the Con- 

 federation, however, when the seven Provinces were brought 

 together, it was deemed so important that the fisheries 

 should receive protection that a Cabinet was formed for 

 the purpose, which had been of vast service in bringing 

 about many things which otherwise would not have been 

 accomplished. Statistics were obtained from the fishermen, 

 the fishery officers, and various other sources, which were 

 collected and submitted to Parliament annually, and 

 Parliament legislated on any improvement which might be 

 required for the purpose of advancing the general interests 

 of the fisheries or the fishermen. It seemed to him extra- 

 ordinary that in a vast and intelligent country like Great 

 Britain the Government had not taken up this great question 

 of protecting, improving, and advancing the interests of the 

 fisheries, a step which had been taken by Canada, the 

 United States, and many other countries. It seemed to 

 him a mistake to leave such an important matter to indi- 

 viduals. No doubt great benefits would result from this 

 exhibition and the Papers and discussions connected with it, 



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