1478 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



There is, however, at the southwest light-house, a fine harbor for boats, and a fish- 

 ery might be established there without difficulty, and with great advantage. 



On two occasions, while this sloop was hove-to off there, the ship's company were 

 most successful, catching great quantities of cod, even under the disadvantage of hav- 

 ing no proper bait. 



Along the cost of Labrador, between the Bay of Seven Islands and Cape Whittle, 

 there are no fishing establishments ; but in former years the Americans were in the 

 habit of frequenting Seven Islands very much; they last year, mustering 100 sail of 

 vessels, committed excesses in stealing and destroying wood, the property of the Hud- 

 son Bay Company's agent, the only European resident there. This year, however, only 

 seven or eight vessels have appeared, and they only for a few days. The Arrow, hired 

 tender, was fortunately there on their arrival, and on removing her to the Bay of 

 Chaleur I was enabled, in consequence of the cordial co-operation of the Canadian 

 armed brigantine Alliance, to keep that coast perfectly protected. 



Seven Islands is an excellent harbor, and as, during the early part of summer, mack- 

 erel abound within the shelter of that beautiful bay, it will be a valuable rendez- 

 vous for the British fishing-vessels in future seasons, but they do not appear yet to fre- 

 quent it. 



A boat's crew would be sufficient to prevent their being molested. 



The cod fishery is good along the coast, but as the country is not inhabited it is only 

 followed by a few small vessels from the neighboring provinces and the Magdalen 

 Islands. 



The harbor of Mingan is a very excellent one, and the fisheries in the neighborhood 

 would, if followed up, be very valuable, while the great number of islands would be 

 most advantageous for shelter. 



Round the Magdalen Islands the fisheries have been very productive in former 

 years, and the people are quite dependent on them. 



The herring and mackerel fishery commences here in June, and the Americans begin 

 to arrive at this time. A considerable number of vessels also arrive from the British 

 provinces, and as the fishing is all carried on by nets in spring, the number laid down 

 is enormous, especially in Pleasant Bay. The fish at this time are making for the 

 close neighborhood of the shore to spawn, and the people seem surprised that the fish- 

 ing is less productive every year, but it is only wonderful that any escape, and that 

 they are not exterminated. 



It would be greatly to the advantage of these islands, and to that of the fisheries 

 generally, if the spring fishing were confined by law to the ground-fish (cod, &c.), 

 and if the mackerel were only pursued during the fall of the year ; by this means the 

 fishery would revive, and a far greater quantity of fine fish would reward the labor 

 than those of an inferior kind, now decreasing every season. 



The herring would still be required for a supply of bait, but they are not nearly so 

 important for commercial purposes as the mackerel, and would be well bestowed in 

 that way. 



The people of the islands do not generally complain of the Americans; on the con- 

 trary, they seem to receive them much more warmly than the people from the 

 provinces. This is easily accounted for ; the Americans employ a number of them, 

 and pay them well, while they buy their little farm produce and also their fish, and 

 bring them articles free of duty. The people from the provinces, on the contrary, 

 leave nothing, and take much away. 



These islands seem much in want of some kind of government. At present there is 

 no law, except that administered by a few magistrates, who are more acknowledged 

 as such by sufferance than by right. If they require to enforce the law, they have no 

 one to carry it into effect by the apprehension of criminals (no one daring to act), 

 while if they could arrest, there is no prison in the islands. 



It does not seem expedient, where several conflicting interests annually meet, that 

 this state of things should continue. 



During the late season, the people came to an agreement against seining on the 

 shores of the islands, but the magistrates appeared doubtful whether they could enforce 

 even that very necessary regulation against the provincial and American vessels. 



In Saint George's Bay, Newfoundland, the principal fishery is the herring, which 

 commences toward the end of April and lasts about three weeks, during which time, 

 this spring, the vast quantity of 21,000 barrels were caught and cured. This great 

 fishery has the effect of making the people careless as to any other ; and indeed, though 

 the actual season lasts so short a time, the preparation for it is a work of considerable 

 labor, for in many cases the people make their own barrels, and are employed for a 

 long time after the ' catch " in curing. 



It is a very fortunate provision that this fishery is at a season while the weather is 

 yet cold, for if it were not so, advantage could not be taken of the great quantity 

 caught in so short a space of time. 



I am informed that by herring alone an industrious man may realize from 50 to 

 xTO sterling. 



