"166 THE FISHERIES. 



Similarly, vast mimlicrs of small lobsters, Irnm \\\i) to fiw 

 inches in length, ]ia\e ln-i-n i)l)serve(l in the iieighliDiirliooil of 

 the hatching incul)at()rs, ;up1 evidently the results of tlieir ojiera- 

 tions. These are hupcful signs in regard to tlie ultimate success 

 of these important e.\[ieriments. 



ClTllK OF HKKKIXGS. 



It may l)e nienlidueil ihat the C-ommissidn (h'Mileil much at- 

 tention to the imjirovcment nf the cure of heiriugs, as the article 

 sent to foreign mai'kels had deteriorated in i|ualily and in many 

 cases ceases to bring I'emunerative prices. Cuih'r ^Mr. Neilsen's 

 supervision, a few hundred barrels Avere cuicd and packed ac- 

 cording to his own method, and then shijiped l)otli td European 

 and American markets. In every instance they brought \'ery 

 satisfactory prices, gieatly in advance of tliosc foijueily obtained, 

 thus demonstrating what rare and skill can do in culiancing the 

 value of this industi-y. He also erected a smoke-house in Pla- 

 centia Bay, and turned out kippered, bloaters, and snu^ked 

 herrings of the tint'>1 (juality which liroughl excidh'nt jinces. 

 The impnlse thus gi\-eu to tlie jierring industi-y will gi-eatly 

 enhance its value. 



THK rUEKZIXG BARKEL. 



One other impoi-taut imjn-ovement introduiHMl liy Mi'. Neil.sen 

 may be mentioned. (^)uite recently he exhibited a freezing bar- 

 rel to a number (if our ti-lietmen and "planters'" in St. John's,. 

 Harbour Grace and ('aibouear, designed for tlie freezing ami 

 preservation of bait in tlic ]iro.secution of the cod lisliery. One 

 of the greatest ditliiulties ihr fisherman has to cncnunter is the 

 ■\\ant of Ijait. At limes it is jilentiful, and at other times the 

 bait fishe.s, such as herrings, caplin and stpiids, disappear and the 

 tisherman is idle a-liore from tlie want of bail. The codfi.sh are 

 plentiful in the wati'r,-. lait there is no bait. It often happi.'ns 

 that a third of tin; lishing season is lost in tliis way. If then 

 when bait are plentiful they could be frozen and preserved for 

 times of scarcity, it is (•\idcnt lliat the .season's catch would le 

 greatly increa.sed. Tlie IVce/iug barrel accomplishes this object 



