AWARD OF THE f ISHERY COMMISSION. 



Nature has provided that at this their spawning season they do not readily uk 

 bait; but from seining, and other means adopted by the Americana, if it had not b 

 checked, the fish would have been exterminated in a few yearn, while th protoetta! 

 of the coast this year will in all probability cause a great increase in future eanoo*. 



The water already abounds with small mackerel, about three inches long ; thia, I MI 

 told, has not occurred before to any extent, and is imputed to the protection of tt 

 spawning-fish during spring. 



It seems to be a clearly established fact, that not only is the mackerel valuable in 

 itself, but where that fish is plentiful the cod is also so. 



Proceeding north from Prince Edward's Island, the Bay Chalenr is the next import- 

 ant fishing-ground. At its mouth, on the south side, is the Inland of Miacou, where 

 there are two considerable fishing establishments connected with Jersey house**. 



On Shippigan Island np the bay, on the same side, are also several eetablinh- 

 ments. Again, higher on the mainland is Caraquette, from which there are ISO boau 

 the people are all of French extraction and speak the language. They sell their fish to 

 the Jersey merchants, of whom they londly complain in summer for grinding them down 

 as to prices, but in winter are often kept from starvation by advances from these bOMM. 

 They appear to be a most improvident and thoughtless people. 



These islands, Miscou, Shippigan, and the mainland, form a bay of great extent; the 

 water is shallow, and, from being land-locked, is usually very smooth. Thin is a very 

 favorite spawning-ground for the mackerel in spring, but the Americans have in former 

 years flocked in after them, capturing them in incredible numbers. 



The offal thrown over while cleaning the mackerel has had a most injurious effect on 

 the cod-fishing, for, as I before remarked, the large number of mackerel would insure a 

 good cod-fishing were it not that they were fed in this way, and prevented from taking 

 bait ; so that what would, if the treaty were observed, be a certainty of success to the 

 British fishermen, has thus been made the cause of failure. 



Is it highly essential that this ground should (in spring and the early part of sum- 

 mer especially) be rigidly protected, not only on account of its great local importance, 

 bat if the mouth of Chaleur Bay is protected it is all protected. 



Crossing Chaleur Bay, there is a considerable fishing carried on at Port Daniel, by a 

 race peculiar to that place. They are descended from some French settlers who at- 

 tached themselves to Indian women ; they are very indolent and improvident, and 

 could not succeed if the fisheries were ever so productive ; they also find a market in 

 the Jersey houses. 



Higher up, at Paspebiac, are the large fishing establishments of Messrs. Robin &, Co., 

 and Messrs. Le Boutlllier, of Jersey, whose vessels, amounting to about 2,500 to 

 3,000 tons, assemble in early spring, moor and dismantle; the crews are then disperse*! 

 among these fishing-boats and curing establishments till the autumn, when they return 

 to their vessels, load, fit them out, and proceed to the Mediterranean and South Ameri- 

 can ports. 



The cod-fishing at Paspebiac has been as good as in former years, and for the first 

 time for many seasons the mackerel have appeared ; for although from the number of 

 American schooners which infested their coasts formerly the people were aware the 

 mackerel were there, they never were permitted to see them close to the shore. 



This change gives them great hope for the future, for they attribute all their want 

 of success of late years to the Americans taking the mackerel, and especially to their 

 cleaning them in their waters. 



Few, however, of the intruders have entered the bay this season, and if they can be 

 kept out in future great results are expected. 



The next and by far the most important fishing establishments are at Perce", P< 

 St. Peter, and Gaspe" Bay, chiefly connected with Jersey houses. They have t 

 this year more successful with fewer men employed than for many years pant, anil 

 attribute it to the Americans having been kept off completely by a boat from tl 

 sloop, which for the whole season was stationed at Point St. Peter by your orders. 



So effectually was the duty performed by this boat, that I am assured scarcely ai 

 American vessel encroached within the limits between Perc<S and Cape Gaspe". 



To the attention, energy, and zeal of Mr. Jenkins, mate of this sloop, the - 

 alone indebted for the very satisfactory performance of this important dm 

 as for the creditable and steady behavior of the boat's crew, of whom there was n 

 single complaint during the season. 



I would respectfully suggest the expediency of stationing a boat at that F 

 season, as from it, in clear weather, the oflBcer can see a great extent o 

 portant fishing-ground in the gulf. 



A great number of the fishermen employed on this coast are from Que 

 time is lost in consequence of their not arriving early enough iu the MMM 



In Chalenr Bay, round as far north as Gaspe, the fishing is earned 

 open boats. 



Round the shores of Anticosti, codfish are numerous, but from t 

 bors even for boats, the pursuit of them would be hazardous. 



