19 



PART II. 



FISHERIES 



Extent of Coast. 



The Fisheries of Canada are the most extensive of the 

 world, extending on our immense sea-coast line, besides innu- 

 merable lakes and rivers. The eastern sea-coast of the Mari- 

 time Provinces, from the Bay of Fundy to the Strait of Belle 

 Isle, covers a distance of 5,600 miles, while the western sea- 

 coast of British Columbia is reckoned at 7,180 miles ; the fresh 

 water area of that part of the Great Lakes belonging to Canada 

 is computed at 72,700 square miles, not including the nu- 

 merous lakes of Manitoba and the North- West Territories, 

 all stocked with excellent species of good fish. 



To better demonstrate the importance of this branch of the 

 Department, it is sufficient to give the enormous aggregate 

 values of the five principal commercial fishes, which are as 

 follows : 



From the year 1869 to 1901 inclusive. 



Cod $121,171,295.00 



Salmon. , 70,217,775.00 



Lobsters 65,511,358.00 



Herring 64,383.547.00 



Mackerel 42,605,334.00 



Capital Invested in the Fisheries of Canada and Number 

 of Men Engaged Therein. 



In 1895 the fishing fleet comprised 1,221 vessels, valued at 

 $2,318,290.00, manned by 9,804 sailors, and 34,268 fishing 

 boats, valued at $1,104,057.00, used by 61,530 fishermen, 

 employing over six million fathoms of nets and other fishing 

 gear, aggregating a capital of $9,253,848.00. 



In 1901 there were 1,231 fishing vessels, valued at$2, 417,- 

 680.00, and 38,186 fishing boats, estimated at $1,212,297.00, 



