FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 123 



committee of the Legislature, before which he appeared in 

 1823, testified that he had repacked several barrels after wash- 

 ing and resalting the fish. The herring so treated reached 

 the West Indies in very good condition and brought a much 

 higher price than usually paid. He testified further that 

 three qualities of dry cod were exported from Quebec and 

 were known as Merchantable, Madeira and West India. 



Similar information was given to the committee by Mr. 

 Jeremiah Leacraft, of Bermuda, who also explained that large 

 quantities of fish, chiefly dry codfish, were exported from 

 Lower Canada to Bermuda and other islands. The salmon 

 and codfish were equal and perhaps better than from any 

 other country, but he complained that the pickled fish, and 

 particularly the herring, were exported in bad condition. 



Many complaints were made in 1828 of the abuses which 

 existed in the packing of fish for export, arising from the 

 lack of inspection, and it was urged by several witnesses who 

 testified before the special committee of Parliament, above 

 referred to, that properly qualified inspectors, disinterested 

 in the fish business, should be stationed at Carleton, Bonaven- 

 ture, Paspebiac, Gaspe and Perce, who should be instructed to 

 classify the codfish intended for export, as Mr. Robin did at 

 that time, and as was done in Newfoundland, dividing it into 

 three qualities, and assorting it into "Merchantable," to be 

 sent to Spain and Brazil, "Madeira," to be sent to the island 

 of that name, and "West India," to be shipped to the West 

 Indies. 



Grave complaints were also made before the committee 

 of the abuses existing in regard to the herring and the capelin 

 fisheries. Both of these fish were then being extensively used 

 for manuring the ground, causing at times a scarcity of bait 

 for codfish, and driving away by the stench from the shore 

 the swarms of fish which heretofore were generally found 

 close to land. 



In 1823 herrings were very abundant between River 

 Ouelle and Isle Verte, and there were also several fisheries for 

 porpoises, shad and salmon. Many sturgeon were also taken 



