REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXV 



B.— INQUIEY INTO THE HISTORY AND STATISTICS OF 



FOOD-FISHES. 



8. — PROPOSED INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE OFFSHORE FISHERY 

 GROUNDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Among the most important objects of a Government fishery commis- 

 sion is that of investigating the known fishing-grounds of a country, to 

 determine accurately their extension and character, so as to define the 

 circumstances and conditions under which the pursuit of the various 

 species of fish can be prosecuted at the various seasons of the year, and 

 also to ascertain what natural bait most attractive to the fish can be 

 secured on the ground, and what can be most advantageously brought 

 from a distance. This involves, also, the question of the methods of 

 fishing most appropriate to the different localities. 



A second object of such a commission should be the discovery and 

 definition of new fishing- grounds, or such as had been previously un- 

 known to the fishermen. Such undoubtedly exist, and from time to 

 time are accidentally brought to light, some becoming of national im- 

 l)ortance. Incidental to this is the inquiry into the hitherto unknown 

 winter abode of many of our valuable summer fishes, which are absent 

 from our shores for several months of the year, as is the case with the 

 mackerel, menhaden, bluefish, and many other species. An important 

 corollary is to relieve the United States fishermen from their depend- 

 ence upon the Canadian waters, either for fish or for bait; so that, even 

 with the utmost probable development of the fishery marine of this 

 country, it may find ample occupation in the waters directlj" oft" from 

 our own coast, from Maine to Florida. 



One general result of such stimulation and development will, of course, 

 be found in a great increase in the number of sea-going fishing- vessels 

 and the training of their crews to maritime adventure. Norway is the 

 only country in Europe in which the Government has come to the aid 

 of the fishermen in any notable degree, and the result of a moderate 

 amount of attention by the State is shown by the immense development 

 of the fishing industry. It is well known that Norway is supported by 

 Iier fisheries to a greater extent than any other country, and that her 

 exports constitute a great source of the fish supply of the world, her 

 cod and herring being exported in immense quantities, not only over the 

 whole of Europe, but even to the West Indies, and to Central and South 

 America. The Loffoden Islands are the great winter spawning-grounds 

 of the cod in the North Atlantic of Europe ; and here, for four or five 

 months of each year, the fishing industry is prosecuted to its utmost ex- 

 tent, the product being greater than that of America, including both 

 the British provinces and the United States. 



The Norwegian Government has for many years sustained a scientific 

 commission for the purpose of studying carefully all possible methotls 



