REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [346] 



in small boats, going out a short distance only from the shore, returning 

 to their homes each night, and using hand lines alone. In Prince Ed- 

 ward Island there were engaged in these fisheries during the year 1878 

 1,175 boats and only 17 vessels. 



"Professor Hind, in his confidential report to the Canadian Govern- 

 ment upon the effect of the Washington treaty on Canadian fisheries, 

 speaking of the difference in the modes of fishing used by the Canadians 

 and Americans, says: 'Mackerel catching is a special industry, and re- 

 quires sea-going vessels. The boat equipment so common throughout 

 British-American waters is wholly unsuited to the pursuit of the mack- 

 erel so largely carried on by United States fishermen. Immense schools 

 of mackerel are frequently left unmolested in the Gulf and on the coast 

 of Newfoundland, in consequence of the fishermen being unprovided 

 with suitable vessels and fishing gear.' * * * 



"The size, quality, and number of mackerel in the Gulf vary ex- 

 ceedingly in different years, sometimes being a mixed quality of large 

 and small, and at other seasons being very poor and of little value. 

 During the present season the mackerel taken in the Gulf have been 

 smaller and poorer than ever before, and will hardly pay even the Cana- 

 dians themselves for taking them. At Prince Edward Island mack- 

 erel can be bought for about $1 a barrel unpacked, while packed, salted, 

 and delivered in Boston they cannot be sold for more than $3, and the 

 dealers there have refused to advance more than $2 upon the mackerel 

 consigned to them. Indeed, the managers of some of the largest fishing 

 establishments upon the island have this summer given up the mackerel 

 fishery and turned their attention entirely to catching cod for the West 

 India market, considering that after paying the expense of packing and 

 transporting the mackerel there was no margin left for any profit. 



"The number of American vessels in the Gulf varies very much each 

 year. There have been seasons previous to the treaty of Washington 

 when as many as 500 vessels were in the Gulf at one time, but since the 

 treaty has been in operation the number has greatly diminished. By 

 the official record kept by the collector of customs at Port Mulgrave in 

 the Gut of Canso, there appear to have been in the Gulf in 1873, 254 ves- 

 sels; 1871, 164 vessels. This record for the years 1875 and 1870 was de- 

 manded by the counsel of the United States at the Halifax Commission, 

 but was refused by the British counsel, although it was admitted that 

 the records were in their possession. The evidence produced by the 

 United States shows that during those years there were not more than 

 100 vessels in the Gulf. There were in 1877, 00 vessels; 1878, 273 

 vessels; 1871), 44 vessels. 



" Of the vessels in the Gulf in 1879, 24 are reported as having obtained 

 7,045 barrels, an average of 293 barrels each, which would make lor the 

 whole fleet, 13,905 barrels taken by American vessels in the Gidf in this 

 year. If one-half of the fish were caught within three miles of the 

 shore, which is a very large estimate, the value of the Canadian inshore 



