26 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



extraordinary degree of prosperity, the total 

 value of the produce of the Newfoundland 

 fishery in 1814 having exceeded 2,800,000. 

 But since the peace, the British fishery on the 

 Newfoundland banks has rapidly declined, and 

 can hardly, indeed, be said at this moment to 

 exist. It is now almost entirely carried on by 

 the French and Americans ; the facilities en- 

 joyed by the latter for its prosecution being 

 greater than those of any other people, and the 

 former being tempted to engage in it by the 

 extraordinary encouragement afforded by go- 

 vernment. 



"At present, the British fishery carried on 

 by the inhabitants of Newfoundland is con- 

 fined entirely to the shore, or boat-fishery. 

 The average annual produce of the fisheries of 

 all sorts, including seal, salmon, etc., exported 

 from Newfoundland during the three years 

 ending with 1832, is stated by Mr. M'Gregor at 

 516,417. There is also a considerable fishery 

 from the ports and harbours of Nova Scotia, 

 Cape Breton, New Brunswick, etc. But next 

 to that of Newfoundland the principal British 

 fishery is carried on along the coast of Labrador, 

 its produce being estimated at from 300,000 

 to 350,000 a year."* 



* M'Culloch. 



