380 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [290] 



The fleet of southern mackerel catchers have mostly arrived home 

 with moderate fares. The highest trip we have heard of is 175 barrels, 

 but the fleet will not average more than 150 barrels to a vessel. Good 

 prices are obtained and they will make a fair business of it. — (Oape Ann 

 Advertiser, June 15, 1866.) 



The southern mackerel fleet have mostly arrived home with light 

 fares; sales of large and medium 3's at $12.50 and $11.50. 



1866. — Scarcity of mackerel in the bay early in the season. 



Eecent advices from the bay state that mackerel are very scarce and 

 the fleet have done nothing as yet. Last year the mackerel made their 

 appearance there quite early, and the first vessels arrived home about 

 the 1st of July with good fares. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 29, 1866.) 



1866. — American vessels permitted to fish in Canadian wa- 

 ters ON purchase OF A LICENSE. 



The honorable Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, the British minister, ac- 

 credited to this government, by an oflicial note of the 24th instant, 

 announces that the Governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 

 have agreed that the possession of a license issued by Canada to fish 

 shall entitle the holder, during the season of 1866, to fish in the waters 

 of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as in those of Canada; 

 the holder of a license from the Government of Nova Scotia or New 

 Brunswick, if any such shall be issued, being entitled to fish in Cana- 

 dian waters as well as New Brunswick. 



The notification is supplemental to one issued early in June, by P. 

 Foster, esq., commanding the Canadian Government schooner " La Can- 

 adienne," employed in protecting the fisheries, who wa« authorized to 

 issue fishing licenses on the payment of 50 cents per ton measurement 

 of the vessel to which they were granted, to remain in force during the 

 season, and conferring the same rights, so far as Canadian fisheries were 

 concerned, as were conferred by the reciprocity treaty to the United 

 States fishermen. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 29, 1866.) 



1866. — Unusual scarcity of mackerel in the bay, prices, etc 



The baymen have about all sailed, and our warves and railways now 

 present a very quiet appearance. It is full time that some of tHe ^arly 

 fleet were at home, but as mackerel have been unusually scarce the pres- 

 ent season there will probably be few arrivals before August, when busi- 

 ness about the wharves will be more lively. Last year most of the fleet 

 arrived home in July with good fares, and many of the vessels made 

 three trips, but the prospect now is that the first fares will be light 

 and prices rule much higher than last season. The shore fleet pick up 

 a few mackerel, and they are readily disposed of at very remunerative 

 prices, which are steadily advancing, showiug in very light receipts. 



