TIIR FISIIKIME^;. 16o 



-tlio I'iict tli-it tlio Irisli Depai'tiiHMit of Fislieries askt-d and oli- 

 taiiiL' 1 permission to rf-])rint it, for the ini'orniation of llie. Irish 

 tislii-rnien ; ami that tlie' French at St. Pit'i-rc' liave tran>hitc<l and 

 published it. Tlic annual reports ot tlie Conunis.siun which are 

 printed and wid(dv eiiculateil cadi yeai-, furnish ampk> iletails of 

 the work <h)ne and eni1)ody all the valuable inforniaticn regard- 

 ing the hsherie-; whicli has l)een collected. 



AVHAT THK C0M:>IISSI0N HA.S DONE. 



What are the result- of the lahoui-s of the ("oniniissinn which 

 lias now l)een in o]icration for live years;' It would he impos- 

 sil)lH, ill a work >uch a- this, to ih) more than indicate very biieHy 

 what has Ijeeii accomplished. Fii-st of all, it has been the aim of 

 .the Conimission, as their in\e,-tigations ])i-oceeded and accurate 

 infoi'iuation accumulateil, to diaw u\> a code of rules and regu- 

 lations Avhicli would cDii-erve and improve the fisheries, and 

 jireveiit injurious and destructive methods of fishing, and to 

 make due pro\-ision for the enforcement of such regulations. 

 This was a task of great ditticulty and re(piii-ing much cand'ul 

 .consideration. Though not yer completed, and though the rules 

 still rei[uire amendments, it- may be safely attirmed that already 

 the fisheries of Xewloundland are as well regulated as tho.se of 

 .any other country. The tishermeii are gradually learning that 

 these rules are devise^l for their l)eneht, ami that of future gene- 

 rations ; and are increasingly giving them a willing obedience. 

 Wardens are appointed whose duty it is to enforce these rule.s 

 .and to bring offenders to justice. 



AKTinCIAL PKOPAGATION Of COD AND LOBSTERS. 



The Commissiim, however, <lid not conline their efforts to such 

 inve-^tigations. They entered from the very outset on the arti- 

 ficial proiiagation of codfish and lobsters with the view of 

 re-stocking wdiolly or ]iartially exhausted sea-areas, and of 

 sustaining the stock where it was declining under adver.se in- 

 fluences. This was a most importantjleparture ami far-reaching 

 in its consequences, if successful. If by artificial means the 

 fishing grounds, which are more or less depleted of cod or othei- 



