THE PICKLED-HERRING TRADE. 



467 



Mr. Sabine, though thoroughly posted on various branches of the fisheries, seems to have less 

 positive information as to the extent of the Magdalen fisheries of this time, for we have it from 

 good authority that the fishery was much larger than would be supposed from his statements. 



The Barnstable Patriot of June 21, 1859, says: 



"A writer from Eastport states that no less than 30,000 pounds of Magdalen herring have 

 already been brought to that place the present season and are now ready for market. They will 

 find a quick sale, thus bringing into the small place $00,000 for a few weeks' labor in one depart- 

 ment of the fisheries." 



A letter from the Magdalen Islands, printed in the Halifax Express of April 30, 1860, says: 



"One hundred sail have already arrived for herring, but the bulk of the fleet are detained in 

 Causo by head winds." 



Mr Fox, the collector of customs at Magdalen Islands, testified before the Halifax Commission 

 that in 1861 he counted five hundred American schooners engaged in fishing near the island. It 

 is probable, however, that the majority of them were engaged in the mackerel rather than in the 

 herring fishery.* 



No records have been kept of the interest of the United States in this fishery, and it is difficult 

 to show its extent with any degree of exactness. The height of the business occurred between 1855 

 and 1861, when it is claimed that between two hundred and three hundred American vessels were 

 engaged in this trade each season, including the small fleet engaged in the Newfoundland and 

 Labrador fisheries. The cargoes varied from 500 to 1,200 barrels, according to the size of the 

 vessel, the average being about 800. The price received for the fish in the American market 

 varied from $1.75 to $2.50 per barrel, according to the demand. 



In addition to the American fleet a few vessels from Nova Scotia and other of the British 

 provinces were engaged in the fishery, smoking their fish before bringing them to the United 

 States for a market. Other of the British Provinces probably caught or purchased considerable 

 quantities of herring in the same locality each season. 



From 18G1 the fishery as far as American vessels are concerned has rapidly declined. Various 

 causes have operated to bring about this result. The quantity of fish, according to some authori- 

 ties, has greatly decreased from overfishiug, and during certain seasons the catch has been 

 insufficient to supply the fleet. At such times the vessels have been obliged to return home with 

 only partial fares. Instances are cited where the fisheries have either partially or wholly failed. 

 In 1862 the catch is said to have been small. In 1870 the fishery was a total failure, and 1873 was 

 a repetition of 1870. Others claim that the fish are still nearly or quite as abundant as formerly, 

 and that other causes have operated to reduce the catch. 



"The following table, published by Mr. H. Y. Hind iu his communication to the Halifax Commission in 1877, 

 purports to show the total catch of herring at the Magdalen Islands for each season from 1861 to 1876, inclusive: 



