BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 375 



2. From information received from Bay of Islands it would appear 

 that the Humber Arm was frozen over by 14th December to as far 

 as eight miles below Birchy Cove and that accidents had happened 

 to some of the small steamers which got caught in it. 



3. In consequence of Admiralty telegram, No. 20, received on 27th 

 December, I despatched a Lieutenant by rail to Birchy Cove to 

 obtain the necessary information on the spot, as I considered that a 

 cheaper, quicker, and more certain way than taking the ship round, 

 and it avoided any possibility of the ship being caught in the ice in 

 case of one of the sudden changes in the weather so common on these 

 coasts. 



4. After the first frost a thaw set in about Christmas time, which 

 lasted into the new year, and the Humber Arm became once more free 

 of ice. 



5. The weather continued very changeable until the 7th January, 

 when Lieutenant Carter returned from Bay of Islands, and made a 

 report, the substance of which is contained in the attached document. 



I have, &c., 



ROBT. H. ANSTRUTHER, 

 Senior Naval Officer, Newfoundland Fisheries. 



The SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY. 



SUPPLEMENT TO MY REPORT ON THE WINTER HERRING FISHERY IN THE 

 BAY OF ISLANDS, 1906-1907. 



After the Brilliant left on llth December, the weather at Bay of 

 Islands was variable, thaw following on the first severe frost, and, 

 the frozen herring industry thus being much delayed, matters at one 

 time wore a gloomy aspect, but notwithstanding doleful prognostica- 

 tions, the catch to 1st January was in excess of that in 1905, and there 

 were on the scaffolds as many herring as the schooners could deal 

 with. The general opinion seemed to be that there has never been a 

 better season. 



2. Twenty-seven American vessels have sailed from Bay of Islands, 

 taking a total of about 40,000 barrels. Fifteen others are nearly 

 loaded, and may be expected to leave before 10th January. Three are 

 making their second trip. 



About twenty vessels, Canadian-owned, and six locally-chartered 

 schooners have sailed with full fares. 



3. The Potomac, during the severe frosts, did very good work in 

 breaking the ice in the Arms, and in freeing schooners and nets. 

 She left for Bonne Bay to coal on 20th December. On 27th Decem- 

 ber she left Bay of Islands, leaving Mr. Alexander at Birchy Cove. 



4. The Atlantic Fish Company insist that Canadians can*take all 

 the herring which can be supplied to them by the fishermen in the 

 Bay of Islands, and that wages will be as high as at present. Up to 

 1st January this Company had cleared five vessels, or about 6,800 

 barrels. 



5. The total number of American schooners engaged in the fishery 

 has risen to 65. Two more have been burnt. 



