REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXVII 



catches by their use. These fishermen formerly depended in large part for their bait 

 upon frozen herring, brought from New Brunswick aud Newfoundland, but where gill- 

 nets are used bait is no longer required. Thus far, however, gill-nets have not been 

 extensively employed in the capture of codfish on the mora distant fishing-banks. 



The development of our shore bait fisheries, referred to in answer to a previous 

 question, also renders our people less dependent upon the Provincial supply, and the 

 growing sentiment upon the part of certain Gloucester owners in favor of substituting 

 salt clams purchased in American markets for fresh bait obtained in the Provinces, 

 seems destined to decrease still further our dependence upon the Canadian supply. 

 It can not be denied, however, that there are still a large number of vessels that would 

 consider it a convenience to obtain bait in the Provinces, provided commercial privi- 

 leges, under proper restrictions, arc accorded to our vessels. 



Questions. " Your Commission has also alluded to inquiries presented by it in respect 

 to the general value of the inshore Canadian waters to American fishermen, and 

 the yearly value of the liberties given to American fishermen by the Washington 

 treaty. Have you ascertained new facts of public interest in that regard which 

 you can conveniently communicate to me?" 



The decreased importance to American vessels of the inshore Canadian fisheries has 

 resulted — 



(1) From the increased size of our vessels, which did away with the necessity of 

 fishing close to laud, where harbor could be made in case of storms, and of landing 

 in the vicinity of the fishing grounds to dry their iish before sailing for home; 



(2) From the substitution of the purse-seine for the haud-liues in the capture of 

 mackerel, which has necessitated the fishing in deeper water and at a greater dis- 

 tance from shore ; and 



(3) From the change in the location of the mackerel fisheries, which has for the 

 past few years enabled our vessels to obtain full cargoes in the vicinity of our own 

 coast, instead of going to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where they formerly met with 

 better success, but where of late years— prior to the present season— they have found 

 fishing unsatisfactory. 



This recent return of the mackerel to the more northern waters should, however, 

 not be considered as indicating a permanent change in the location of the fishery, for 

 within a short time, and possibly next season, they may again appear in greater 

 abundance on our own coast ; and, indeed, the study of the movements of other fishes 

 renders it not wholly improbable that mackerel may at no distant day disappear en- 

 tirely from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and from other portions of the Provincial shores, 

 where, they are now abundant. 



0. — PROPAGATION OF FOOD FISHES. 

 Distribution of Fish and Eggs. 



The cars of the Commission have been extensively used in transpor- 

 tation. Some changes have been made in methods of distribution. 

 Carp and other fishes of the same family are shipped during the fall 

 and early winter, and not in the spring, which is the season of their 

 greatest emaciation. Eggs intended for shipment to foreign countries 

 were packed at the stations for the entire trip, and not repacked in New 

 York. The boxes containing them were transferred from the non-con- 

 ducting material surrounding them in the outer shipping cases to the 

 refrigerating-roorns of ocean steamers. 



Trout have been shipped by express, without a messenger, from 

 Washington to New York and back, with no loss. A shipment to 



