THE NORTHEAST COAST FISHERIES 529 



more primitive, but after all the more effective, method of 

 chumming"; secondly, the mackerel began to disappear 

 from Canadian waters, in consequence of which, each suc- 

 ceeding year has found fewer American vessels in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence. Since 1886, indeed, the mackerel have 

 almost wholly abandoned their former haunts in the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, although reports of the present year give evi- 

 dences that they are renewing their annual migrations to 

 the more northern station. However, the abandonment of 

 the purse seine has removed the prime causes of discord, and 

 if the American mackerel fleet should resume operations in 

 the Gulf, there is no special likelihood of conflict. 



The northeast coast fisheries are in a most prosperous and 

 flourishing condition, as may be realized from the fact that 

 in 1899 the number of " ground fish " from the Banks (cod, 

 haddock, hake, etc., excluding mackerel) landed at Boston 

 and Gloucester, amounted to 155,367,808 pounds, valued at 

 $3,525,268. A substantial increase is thus shown over the 

 business of the previous year, which amounted to 128,088,295 

 pounds, with estimated value of 2,585,010. Reports for 1900 

 indicate that the fisheries are steadily increasing in value. 1 



It is greatly to be hoped that the present regulations may 

 continue in operation undisturbed by the intrusion of other 

 diplomatic issues. Therein lies the chief danger of a per- 

 petuation of this stubborn quarrel of a century between the 

 United States and Canada. 



At last the American fisherman seems to be satisfied, and 

 the Canadian fisherman is equally without cause of complaint. 

 Time has reconciled disputes which the wisdom of statesmen 

 failed to adjust, and it has successfully composed those ques- 

 tions which diplomacy could not permanently solve. And 

 thus the lesson is once more taught that war postponed is the 

 beginning of peace. Let it be hoped that the cordial relations 

 between the two great nations in interest thus cemented 

 by time, may continue as long as time itself may last. 



1 See page 456. 



2 M I or THK 



| UNIVERSITY 



