210 MISCELLANEOUS 



vary in consequence of strong southerly and northerly winds; they 

 generally fall in on the coast to the westward a few days before they 

 do at Canso and Cape Breton. The chief places for netting and 

 seining mackarel in the spring, are the Tusket Islands, the west side 

 of Cape Sable, east side of Margaret's Bay, Little Harbor, "White 

 Head, St. Peters in Cape Breton k Antigonishe, and several other 

 places. As there is no doubt but that the mackarel are bound to 

 Chaleur Bay for the purpose of spawning, it would lead us to be- 

 lieve that when one fish is taken with the net or seine, thousands are 

 destroyed which would otherwise likely come to maturity. Could 

 the practice of taking fish with their spawn be abolished, it is likely 

 they would be much more abundant. The mackarel, after passing 

 the south coast of Nova Scotia, proceed to the northward, through 

 the Straits of Canso, and to the eastward of Cape Breton, making 

 their way northwardly until they are up to Shippegan, Bradelle 

 Bank, Gaspe, Seven Islands, &c. After having spawned, they con- 

 tinue about those places as their feeding ground, there being large 

 quantities of lants there which they feed upon, and consequently 

 become fat. 



As the season advances, about the month of October, the fish begin 

 to make their way to the southward, and continue until the latter 

 part of November. The practice of taking mackarel with the hook 

 and line has not been long in operation in Nova Scotia ; and I believe 

 there never has been a voyage made with the hook and line on the 

 southern coast of Nova Scotia, except at Sable Island, where there 

 have been some good voyages made. The fish which resort here are 

 of a different quality from those which go to the Bay de Chaleur, 

 being much* larger and fatter. In 1850 the fish were plenty and took 

 the hook well, but in 1851 the fish appeared at times to be abundant, 

 but would not take the hook. Mackarel here feed in shallow water, 

 within the bars or shoal edges of sand which extend in different 

 places near the Island. The vessels when employed in the mackarel 

 fishery here lie at anchor in about G or 7 fathoms water, and I have 

 been informed that mackarel have been discovered from the mast 

 head of these vessels lying within the ridges of sand. They are 

 chiefly taken in boats or flats, which go over the ridges when they 

 sometimes appear to be lying on the bottom. Was there a light house 

 erected on the north west end of the Island, I think it would be of 

 great service to those who tend the mackarel fishery here, as they often 

 have to cross the north west bar when they cannot ascertain the dis- 

 tance from the Island. As the season advances, the weather change- 

 able, and the bars being dangerous to cross in rough weather, our 

 vessels mostly leave after the last of September. The American 

 vessels which fit out for the hook fisheries are of a superior class 

 from those in Nova Scotia. Their tonnage generally from CO to 130 

 tons, very sharp built, well fitted in every respect; those they term 

 the sharp-shooters are very superior sailing vessels. This enables 

 them to reach the fishing ground and procure their cargo, while those 

 of Nova Scotia are actually carrying sail to reach the fishing ground. 

 Those vessels are likewise well manned, varying from 12 to 24 men, 

 making an average probably of about 15 or 16 men to each vessel. 

 In 1851 I was informed there were about one thousand sail of Ameri- 

 can vessels, which with an average of 15 men would give fifteen thou- 

 sand. Some of these vessels, I heard, made three trips in Chaleur 



