FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 153 



which they are pressed by a powerful screw. Each drum 

 contains exactly 128 Ibs. of dry fish, that being the Portuguese 

 quintal; and the drums are shaped to suit the convenience 

 of the Brazilians, who transport them into the interior of 

 South America, slung in pairs upon mules. For the Medi- 

 terranean markets, the fish are stowed in the holds of the ves- 

 sels in bulk, and seldom receive damage, such is the excellent 

 manner in which they are cured and stowed. The best and 

 whitest of the cod are required for the Neapolitan market, for 

 even the lazzaroni of Naples are very particular as to the 

 quality of their fish. 



"Mr. LaPerelle said that capelin struck in abundantly 

 at Paspebiac the past season, and were used largely as man- 

 ure. Herring do not come in here in sufficient numbers to be 

 used for that purpose. At one time during the past summer 

 there were five American schooners at anchor, about a mile 

 from Messrs. Robins' establishment. They fished at the dis- 

 tance of three miles from the point of the beach for mackerel, 

 and obtained full fares; some of the vessels had nine hun- 

 dred barrels; while they were fishing they destroyed the 

 shore fishery for cod, as the fishers could not catch a sufficiency 

 of mackerel for bait. 



' ' Among the standing orders of the house of Robin & Co. 

 for the regulation of their fishermen, is one that they shall 

 not split or clean their fish on the fishing grounds, but al- 

 ways bring them to the shore before performing these oper- 

 ations. These people in their own employ are obliged to com- 

 ply with this order strictly, and they endeavour to induce 

 all others to be guided by it. They conceive it very injurious 

 to the fisheries to throw bones and offal among the fish, and 

 the opinion of the firm on this point, from their long experi- 

 ence and knowledge of the subject, must be deemed quite con- 

 clusive. " 



ABBE FERLAND ON LABRADOR. 



The Abbe Ferland visited the coast of the Canadian 

 Labrador in the summer of 1858, and wrote a very pictures- 



