160 THE FISHERIES 



mass of its people avoiv (.Icpuudent for tlicir breail, until about 

 five years ago. In point of fact, these industries were left to take 

 eare of themselves. There was a popular ludief (hat the fisheries 

 were inexhaustible ; that all which man cduld take from the 

 waters would make in) imjiri'ssiim on their swai-ming h>h-life, 

 '<iood and bad scasmis might (■(inic and gn, but tliese wci'c be- 

 lieved to be jmrely ]iriividentia!, and i|iiite ln-yond human 

 control. Nothing tliat man eiadd do \\(iuld have any ell'ect, 

 either to hel]i or mar the 1i>lieries. Fish were considereil to be 

 too pr-olific to permit the supposition that tlieii- luimber could l.te 

 ]icrce]»tilily diminished by human means. 



COD FISHKIJIKS DKtXIXINti. 



These proved to be the dreams of ignorance which tlie stern 

 logic of events af length dissipated. Fisheries began to fail, 



.especially around the shore. Sevcal of ihe large bays, where 

 cod were once abundant, such as ('once]ition Bay, no longer 

 yiehled enough ti>h to rejtay the toils of the tishermen or give 

 tlu'in bread : and they wei-e <lri\en to seek new tishing-groumls 

 fai- from their homes. The waters were liecoming de])leti-d in 

 many localities, mid the catcli in others was greatly re(hi<'ed. 



-The number of tho>e engaged in tishing had douliled, am! i)u- 

 pi'oved implements oi all kinds had Ijeen inlioduced ; and still 

 no more fish was taken than foruierly. 



HOX. A. AV. H.VKVKVS G001> AVOKK, 



These alarming facts began to im]>ress the unuds of thoughtful 

 men, and to suggest the nei'essity of taking iTompl and eiieigetic 

 measures to meettlu^ evil and to protect and ii'>tore the li.-heries. 

 In this connection it is but just to reler to the able and praise 

 worthy lal)oui-s of the Hon. A. W. Harvey, a meiulter of the 

 Legislative ('ouucil. He had made an intt'Iligeut study of the 

 tisheries, and becauie profoundly iui|ire»ed with the dangers 

 which beset these intlu>tries, from the causes ali'cady referi'cd to, 

 and with the neces-ity for eneigetii- action, iu his place in the 

 <'ouncil he had for inauy years kept the luatter ludbi'e that body 

 ami tlie general public. In able and e.\hausti\e speeches, he 



