442 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



Portland, and other towns began to come regularly to the region, though the Gloucester fishermen 

 engaged in the frozen-herring trade hesitated to visit this region on account of a prejudice against 

 the net herring, the higher price demanded by the fishermen, and the smaller size of the fish when 

 compared with those taken in Newfoundland. 



The extensive fleet engaged in the frozen herring trade soon found it more profitable to make 

 short trips to the Bay of Fundy than to visit the more distant grounds at the island of Newfound- 

 land, and in a few years the New Brunswick fisheries had grown to be more extensive than those 

 of Newfoundland. The expense of a long trip to Newfoundland, together with the additional risks 

 and exposures of the voyage, more than counterbalanced the difference in the price paid for the 

 fish. In addition to this, there was some uncertainty as to the supply of fish in Newfoundland, as 

 vessels had occasionally failed to secure full cargoes, while, at Grand Manau, no such scarcity of 

 fish had occurred, and, besides, trips from Grand Manan would reach the market nearly a month 

 earlier. 



About 1868 the business may be said to have been properly inaugurated, and, from this date, 

 it grew with surprising rapidity until in the winter of 1879-'80 it had quite supplanted the trade with 

 Newfoundland ; 8 cargoes being brought from Newfoundland, while 102 cargoes, in addition to the 

 large quantity shipped by steamer, were brought from Grand Manan. 



2. FISHING GROUNDS. 



NEWFOUNDLAND. The principal localities for frozen herring, as has already been intimated, 

 are the island of Newfoundland and the southern coast of New Brunswick. 



This fishery for Newfoundland is confined almost exclusively to the southern shore of the 

 island, which is of peculiar formation, being exceedingly high and rocky and indented by numer- 

 ous long and deep arms of the sea, which are frequented by immense schools of herring during the 

 winter and spring months. 



The first trip of frozen herring taken to the United States was obtained at Rose Blanche, a 

 small harbor about 20 miles east of Cape Ray, the southwestern point of the island. Cargoes have 

 frequently been secured at other points along the shore ; the principal fishing ground, however, is 

 at Fortune Bay, a large bay 65 miles in length, situated about midway of the southern shore of the 

 island. This bay is irregular in shape, having a width of 35 miles at its mouth and gradually nar- 

 rowing toward the center, where it varies from 10 to 20 miles in breadth. It is separated from 

 Placentia Bay by a long peninsula, which forms its southeastern shore. This shore, though high, is 

 comparatively regular, and, in various portions of its length has low and sloping banks. The 

 northern shore of the bay, however, is peculiarly rough, rugged, and barren, being composed of a 

 series of steep, rocky peninsulas intersected by deep and narrow bays, which are the favorite feed- 

 ing and spawning grounds for the herring. Long Bay, or " Long Harbor," as it is locally called, has 

 for several years been the principal fishing point of the region. This bay is about 16 miles long by 

 a mile and a quarter wide, and during the winter months is usually covered with ice through a 

 greater part of its length. The lower portion, however, is open, and affords an opportunity for 

 seining and netting the fish. 



Other harbors, including Saint Jacques, Bay the North, and Rencontre, were formerly impor- 

 tant points in connection with this fishery, and vessels occasionally visit them at the present day. 



NEW BRUNSWICK. When the frozen-herring trade of New Brunswick began, the principal 

 fishing was at Grand Manau. 



This is a small rocky island, 13 miles long by 7 wide, lying about 6 miles southeast of West 

 Quoddy Head, which is the nearest land. Vessels have regularly visited this island and obtained 



