14G 'J'HE FISHEUIE?;. 



cod docs not exceed that of 30 or 40 years ago. This is a signal' 

 of " rocks ahead." The supply even of tlie prolific cod is falling 

 off. There are far fewen- cod in the waters than formerly, as all 

 the older fishermen declare. The most serioiis signs of exhaus- 

 tion are in tlie shore fishery, though even ou tlie Banks there are 

 unfavourable indications, in recent years. In some of the bays 

 where formerly cod were abundant the (juantity now taken is 

 very small, and the fishermen whose fathers u-ed to fill their 

 boats with the n(jl)le coil within sight of their own doors, have 

 now, with great increase of toil and hardshijis, to seareli fur them 

 along the grim shores of Labi-ailoi-. 



CAUSES OF DECLINE IN COD FISHEKV. 



The causes of this decline are not ditticult to discovei'. Eeek- 

 less and destructive modes of fishing, unrestrained by any legal 

 enactments, or proper rules and regulations, have gone on for 

 generations. Lnmature fish, in countless myriads, have been 

 destroyed before "repeating the story of their liirth." Imple- 

 ments of a deadly and destruetive nature have been used — some 

 of these taking the gravid nu)ther-tish in vast numbers and 

 others, such as nets with very small meshes, have recklessly de- 

 stroyed the young fish before reaching their reproductive age,, 

 and at a time when they are almost useless as articles of food. 

 The observance of "close seasons,"" when the tish are spawning, 

 was neglected. There was no minister or department of tisheries 

 charged with the duty of sujiervision, and of establishing and 

 enforcing wise rules and regulatitais. Laws wei-e passed by nu;n 

 who were groping in the dark, being utterly unacquainted \\ith 

 fish-life, in any scientific sense, and such laws soon beranu- merely 

 dead letters, no provision for enforcement Ijeiug ma'le. 



REMEDIES APPLIED. 



It is not wonderful to find that under such a system, the fish- 

 eries of cod, herring, salmon and lobsters have been showing 

 alarming signs of decline, and in some places of utter exhaustion. 

 Five years ago the remedy was a])plied, and not a moment too- 

 soon. A Fisheries Commission was api)ointed, and this became 



