FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 145 



"In a representation made to the Canadian Legislature 

 by a fisherman of Gaspe, it is stated that this fisherman had 

 seen five hundred barrels of capelin taken in one tide, ex- 

 pressly for manure ; and that he had also seen one thousand 

 barrels of herrings caught at one time, and not taken away, 

 but left to rot upon the beach ! 



"It has been remarked in the Baie des Chaleurs, that 

 owing to this waste of the smaller fish, the cod fishery re- 

 cedes as agriculture advances. The lazy farmer who thinks 

 he can increase the fertility of his land by a single sweep 

 of his seine, does so at the expense of the fisheries, although 

 a bountiful Providence has furnished the shore with in 

 exhaustible quantities of kelp, seaweed and other valuable 

 manures, which really enrich the soil, while it is admitted 

 that the use of fish greatly deteriorates it. 



"The vessels of Gaspe frequently resort to Anticosti, off 

 the eastern end of which island cod are often taken in great 

 abundance and of good quality. ' ' 



Describing the fishing methods in vogue in 1849 on the 

 Labrador coast, he said: 



"The excellent fishery on the Labrador is prosecuted 

 almost wholly by the Americans, and by vessels from New- 

 foundland, Canada, and Nova Scotia. The vessels usuallv 

 employed are schooners of 70 or 80 tons burthen, and they ar- 

 rive on the coast about the end of May. Every part of the 

 coast is frequented by fishing vessels during the season, from 

 Mount Joli, at the southern boundary of Labrador, to the 

 northern extremity of the Straits of Belle Isle. On reaching 

 the coast the vessel enters some snug harbour, where she is 

 moored, and there remains quietly at anchor until a full fare 

 or the departure of the fish requires the master to seek another 

 inlet, or return home. 



"The fishery is carried on entirely in boats, and the 

 number found most useful is one for every thirty tons of 

 the vessel; there are two men to each boat. If fish are in 

 plenty and not too distant from the vessel, they are expected 

 in good weather to get two loads each day. The return of 



