336 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



FISHERIES. 



From the Report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, 

 Canada, 1860. 



THE subject of the Fisheries is of vast importance, and the only 

 regret is it does not attract more attention from our own 

 people. While the wheat fields and the forests are thronged 

 with busy labourers, the great rivers and basins of water, salt and 

 fresh, teeming with fish, which are sought for in every market of 

 the world, are as scenes of labour and business almost neglected 

 by Canadians. The riches of these waters cannot be estimated, 

 and the market which a proper development of them would 

 furnish for the surplus produce of the soil, is too little thought of. 

 Still it is believed that enterprise in connection with them is 

 becoming more active and general. 



The cod fishery in the Gulf and River St. Lawrence has been 

 entirely successful. 



Notwithstanding a slight depreciation in the trade price of oil, 

 the whale fishery, ventured by vessels chiefly from Gaspe, evinces 

 gradual improvement. 



The seal fishery, because of adverse conditions of weather, 

 proved indifferent although the fall was superior to the spring 

 take. 



The mackerel fishery was poor ; an unusually large number 

 of craft engaged therein, but the unfavourable season left the 

 majority of them to return with scant fares. 



The herring fishery shows no decline. 



The catch of porpoises was but small. 



There still is reason to observe that portions of the foreign 

 fleet frequenting Canadian waters, disturb fishing grounds inside 

 of the bounds which the treaty of 1854 reserves for British 

 fishermen. 



