1408 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



kinds offish, which are easily obtained by dragging those parts of riv- 

 ers which become small pools at low water. 



Salmon, cod, and ling are found at the mouths of rivers where these 

 bents are, and in about the same proportion of number. 



Mackerel and herring naturally come into shallow water at certain 

 seasons to spawn, and are then in the best condition for human food ; but 

 tlirv can be enticed, and very easily, if along a bank, to more than three 

 miles from the coast, and then caught there by a vessel standing out to 

 sea, and throwing overboard large quantities of bait as she goes along. 



These fish are cured and packed on board the fishing vessels directly 

 they are caught, it being necessary to do so in order to preserve them. 



As the nearest principal markets for the sale of fish are New York and 

 Boston, and as there is a tax in the United States on fish landed from 

 I'.rit tsh vessels, but none from American, and as fish are more plentiful 

 near the coast, it follows that the fishing business on this coast is most 

 profitable when it can be carried on close to the shore, and under Ameri- 

 can colors. Also, as fishing is apparently most profitable under Ameri 

 can colors, and there is an American law which prevents a British-buill 

 ship from ever being able to sail under American colors, it follows thai 

 the shipbuilders in the United States have a better market for their fish- 

 ing schooners than the British. On the other hand, it is a disadvantage 

 to the United States Government for vessels to fish under their flag, for 

 they lose the tax which they would get were the fish to be lauded at 

 their seaports from British vessels instead of American. 



The residents about the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence have in- 

 formed me that their inshore fishing this season has been good, and that 

 they attribute this in a great measure to the American fishing schooners 

 having been kept off the coast. Large numbers of these schooners have 

 been fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this year, and have been fre- 

 quently seen doing so within three miles of the coast, notwithstanding 

 e precautions that have been taken to prevent them. These fishing 

 schooners generally go about in fleets, and their crews are made up ot 

 a mixture of all nations, with but a few.ibona fide Americans among 

 These men receive no wages, but a certain share of the proceeds 



the sale of the fish caught during the 



No. 41. 



In-chief.] November, 1*70, addressed to Vice- Admiral Fawnshawe, commander- 



POET HOOD. 

 ra^lH^ H ^"^ *" ^ Vlcinity f tbe P rt has b ^ a11 accounts 



'ft II I,tr <l(K>\ ' MlA AVAraoro tl.r ,.,....1 1 __.... '. 



n rlKn P r as y a accouns 



5 all ut n, V6rage ' th6 mackerel comin S in through the Gut of 



f Juue ' wheu there was an i 



northward toward East 



i haS b , een excell *nt; the summer herrings 

 herrings for three nights in September, and I 

 ^rt barrels were caught off 'flenry 

 The cod fishery here has not been remarkable. 





