DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



329 



late years to enhance their effectiveness, a deplorable decline in the catch has 

 taken place, for we find a total catch of only 1,618,603 barrels, and an annual 

 average of 161,860 barrels, and of No. 1 grade a total of 198,222, a yearly 

 average of but 19,822 barrels. 



Summary. 



Comparing the catch of the later decade with the aid of its perfected and 



destructive fishing engines, with that of the first decade, with its primi- 



199 tive modes of capture, an annual average decline in the total catch of 



mackerel of 23,631 barrels, and in catch of No. 1 grade of 48,441 barrels 



appears. 



While the Minister of Marine and Fisheries is not prepared to state that this 

 decline is due solely to the use of improved fishing engines, or that some other 

 natural or minor causes may not affect the movements of the vast mackerel 

 schools in approaching the shores, yet he is of opinion that enough evidence 

 has been adduced to attribute the steady decrease in the size and superior 

 quality marketed, mainly to the destruction of small and immature fishes and 

 the breaking up of the schools by purse seines. 



The question now being dealt with is one of paramount importance to all in- 

 terested in the deep sea fisheries of the Atlantic coasts of America, and it is 

 submitted that some concerted action is necessary towards ameliorating the 

 evil effects of this highly improvident method of fishing. 



The Committee concurring in the above report recommend that Your Excel- 

 lency be moved to forward a copy hereof to the Right Honourable the Principal 

 Secretary of State for the Colonies for submission to Her Majesty's Government 

 with the request that it be brought to the notice of the Government of the 

 United States of America, with the view to obtaining some International action 

 or Legislation looking either to the prohibition or restriction of the use of purse 

 seines as may be deemed advisable for the preservation of the mackerel fishery. 



This Department has since been advised that the Secretary of State for the 

 United States had expressed his willingness to give the subject his careful con- 

 sideration, with a view to the adoption of concerted measures to diminish the 

 mischief complained of. I am, therefore, losing no opportunity of collecting 

 further data and evidence on this important question, that it may be available 

 when the subject comes up for consideration. 



The opposition to a restriction being placed on the use of these nets will, 

 at the present time, probably be much less than it would have been up to a 

 recent period, many of the fishermen having at last conceded the irreparable 

 damage their use entailed, in the destruction of immense quantities of both im- 

 mature and spawning fish. 



All which is respectfully submitted for Your Excellency's approval. 

 ******* 



Extract from Appendix No. 9 to the foregoing Report, being an Ap- 

 pendix to Minute of Privy Council, 22nd May, 1890, on the use of 

 Purse Seines for the Capture of Mackerel. 



Commander Lavoie, of the Government Fisheries Protection 

 steamer " Lady Head," in his report for 1878, Supplement No. 4 to 

 the Eleventh Annual Report of the Minister of Marine and Fisher- 

 ies, 1878, p. 64, said : 



It can easily be imagined what terrible havoc these 350 purse seines must 

 make when engaged during two or three consecutive months in sweeping the 



