.__ (156 ) 



CANADA. 



(See Plan, p. 158.) 



THE Dominion of Canada (extending over half the continent of America, washed by the waters 

 of three great oceans, and having within its confines innumerable rivers and lakes), stands 

 almost unrivalled in the extent and variety of its fisheries. 



What are generally known as the Maritime Provinces Quebec, Nova Scotia, New 

 Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island have every description of sea-fishes ; whilst their rivers 

 furnish an abundance of food-fish of great economic and commercial value, and oifer to the 

 sportsman some of the best salmon and trout fishing in the world. 



The great inland province of Ontario, from her vast lakes and rivers, supplies to her own 

 people, and for export to other countries, large quantities of valuable freshwater fish ; whilst 

 the new province of Manitoba and the whole of the great North-West Territory have innumerable 

 lakes and rivers teeming with choice food-fish, which are of great value to the settlers in that 

 fertile region, while the rivers on the Pacific slope in British Columbia are literally full of 

 salmon. 



In a new country, where the machinery for obtaining official statistics is as yet somewhat 

 imperfect, it is difficult to estimate with accuracy the annual value of the fish taken ; besides 

 almost every farmer and settler near the sea-coast, lake, or river, has a boat, net or other 

 appliances for furnishing his household with fresh fish, no return of which is made to 

 Government. The benefit of this great boon is especially felt by the settler, who often draws 

 from the waters within sight of his new home supplies of rich fish for his family, even 

 after his lands yield their rich harvests. The cash value of this widely-distributed privilege 

 to the resident in Canada cannot be reached by the statistician, as his figures deal only with 

 commercial transactions. The export of fresh fish is principally to the United States. 



Of cured sea-fish, codfish, mackerel, herring, &c., large quantities are annually shipped to 

 the West Indies, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and other countries. Lobster and salmon, of 

 which about twenty million cans are packed, go mainly to the United States and Great Britain. 

 The official returns show annually a steady increase in the value of the fisheries, In 1882 it 

 reached the sum of $16,088,672. 



In some of the older sections of Canada, the former unrestricted fishing of streams, together 

 with obstructions by mill-dams and otherwise, so resulted in their depletion that the Government 

 took up the matter, enacted laws for the regulation of inland fishing, provided for the erection 

 of suitable fish-ladders or passes in mill-dams, and have established eleven fish-breeding 

 establishments for restocking and maintaining the supply in the rivers and lakes by artificial 

 means. The extent of fish culture in Canada, under the superintendence of Samuel Wilmot, 

 Esq., may be judged by the output of young fish in the last season, viz. : Salmon, 5,783,000; 

 Salmon Trout, 2,277,000; Californian Salmon placed in Eastern waters, 471,000; Speckled 

 Trout, 40,000 ; Percidae, 26,500,000 ; Whitefish, 20,728,000 ; Total, 55,799,000 



In this year's operations there have been placed in the hatcheries Salmon Eggs 6,612,000 ; 

 Salmon Trout Eggs, 8,350,000 ; Speckled Trout Eggs, 200,000 ; Whitefish Eggs, 43,000,000 ; 

 Total, 58,162,000 



To which may be added at the proper season twenty million of the Percidse family. The 

 total distribution of young fish since the commencement of fish-hatching operations has been 

 upwards of one hundred and seventy-five millions. 



Telegraph wires and cables have been laid to the principal fishing stations and harbouis 

 on the sea-coast and adjacent islands ; and in addition to the ordinary signal service for all 

 shipping, fishery bulletins are issued and immediate information given of the appearance of 

 fish at any locality. The sea-coast, rivers, and lakes are well provided with lighthouses. The 

 official returns of December 31, 1882, show 551 lights and 29 steam fog-whistles and automatic 

 buoys. Seven Government steamers are employed in the lighthouse, buoy and fishery service. 



The Meteorological service is very extensive and efficient, giving weather predictions at 

 all the principal ports. During the year 1882 six thousand five hundred and forty-five 

 predictions were issued, ninety per cent, of which were fully or partly verified. 

 [The Collection of Specimens from the Province of Prince Edward Island was un* 



