[0l5] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 405 



abundant, and the price of mackerel so low, that this may account for 

 their not attending to the latter." — (Eeport of the cruise of the gov- 

 ernment schooner " La Canadienne," in the Eiver and Gulf of Saint 

 Lawrence, for the season of 1871, uuder command of N. Lavoie, esq., 

 tishery officer. Annual report of tlie department of marine and fish- 

 eries, for the yenr ending oOth June, 1871, Appendix C, pages 19, 20.) 



Watsiteeshoo District. FeJix Sylvesire, overseer. 



*' Mackerel abundant, but the fishermen of this division do not follow 

 this fishing." — (Synopsis of fishery overseers' and guardians' reports in 

 the Province of Quebec, for the season 1871. Annual report marine 

 and fisheries, 1871, Appendix H, page 72.) 



MoisiE Divisiox. F. Tlilviergr, overseer. 



^Mackerel were abundant. The fishermen in this division do not, 



however, in general, follow this fishing, but one man took 04 barrels. — 



[lb., p. 71.) 



Pabos Divisiox. James M. Eemon, overseer. 



In the mackerel fishing nothing is done beyond taking what is re- 

 fjuired for bait. — {lb., p. G7.) 



Anticosti Division. 



'' Although mackerel are very abundant around the island they are 

 not much sought after, and only 20 barrels were caught at Salmon 

 River." — (Report of X. Lavoie, commander government schooner "La 

 Canadienne," of a cruise in the River and Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 1872. 

 Annual Report, marine and fisheries of Canada, 1872, Aifjiendix B.) 



1871. — Inferior quality of mackerel taken in Canadian 



WATERS. 



The following is taken from letters furnished by the county overseers 

 of Nova Scotia to Mr. Rogers, the fish-officer of the province : 



'• I am happy to be able to report a very large increase in the quanti- 

 ties of almost all kinds of fish taken this year, an<l although prices have 

 ruled much lower for most descriptions, the aggregate value is more 

 than one million dollars over the previous year. Mackerel, particu- 

 larly, show a very large increase, but being mostly the early runs, they 

 are inferior in quality." — (Report of W. H. Venning, esq., inspector of 

 fish for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Annual re[)ort marine and 

 fisheries, 1871, Appendix N.) 



1871. — Bad season for mackerel in the gulf of saint Law- 

 rence. 



These fish struck in on our shores about the middle of June in large 

 quantities, and the first catches were taken in a very short time, some 

 vessels taking 200 barrels in three weeks ; but the fish were poor, not 



