100 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ried on by the local residents in small boats, although some Nova Scotia 

 vessels, and a limited number from the United States, sometimes engage 

 in it. 



FISHING-GROUNDS NEAR THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 



The cod and halibut grounds about the Magdalen Islands are at 

 present of little importance to American fishermen. Since the intro- 

 duction of trawl-fishing it has usually been found that better results 

 could be obtained elsewhere. These grounds are rocky patches, and 

 generally of limited extent, with comparatively shoal water and sharp 

 bottom. They occur all around the islands, but are not of sufficient im- 

 portance to make a special description necessary. A few trips of hali- 

 but have been taken on the shoal about Byron Island, but the appear- 

 ance of these fish is so uncertain in that locality that the halibut catchers 

 rarely go there. The fishing is done almost wholly in the small boats 

 of the resident fishermen, and by the small vessels belonging to the 

 British possessions and at the French islands of Saint Pierre and Mi- 

 quelon. 



GATE NORTH FISHING-GROUND. 



Around the northern part of Cape Breton Island, at a distance vary- 

 ing from 4 to 15 miles from the land, is a fishing-ground that is of con- 

 siderable importance for a few weeks in the spring and early summer. 

 This lies between (Jape North and Saint Paul Island, and extends 

 westerly about 15 miles, and southwesterly along the coast as far as 

 Limbo Cove. The land is bold and high, with steep shores, so that 

 notwithstanding the close proximity of the fishing-ground the depth 

 of water on it is from 05 to 100 fathoms. The bottom is mostly tough 

 clay, but 10 or 15 miles from the laud there are some rocky ridges. The 

 current sets out of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence toward the southeast, 

 although the direction in which it runs in the vicinity of Cape North 

 changes more or less in conformity with the land. The strength is 

 increased by strong westerly winds, aud after a long continuance of 

 these, the current sometimes runs 3 or 4 miles an hour. As a general 

 thing, however, the tides run slowly About 1860 and 1861 cod and 

 halibut were found in abundance, but later the halibut seemed to dis- 

 appear, and for several years have been taken only occasionally. The 

 cod' are still found quite plenty in May and June, at which time they 

 are moving slowly in by the headland on their way to the shoaler 

 grounds in the bay of Saint Lawrence. The fishing is often obstructed 

 by floating field-ice, which sometimes prevents the vessels from reach- 

 ing the ground until late in the season. This place is resorted to by 

 provincial aud American vessels, but owing to the difficulties that 

 have been alluded to, the fleet is usually small. 



