PREFATORY NOTE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION. 



The report of the Shad Fishery Commission, consisting of Mr. Samuel F. 

 Morrison, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Mr. S. Melanson, of Moncton, New Brunswick, 

 and myself as Chairman officially representing the Department of Marine and 

 Fisheries on the Commission, is divided into three parts, viz. : Part First, the com- 

 plete and final report containing an historical account of former conditions obtaining 

 in the Shad Fishery not only of the Bay of Fundy, but of the easterly and northern 

 shores of the Maritime Provinces, and condensed views as to the changed condition 

 ox the fishery, the causes thereof, and a mass of detailed matter, condensed from the 

 evidence and from official reports and records, all bearing on the principal points 

 which the Commission were instructed, by the Honourable the Minister of Marine 

 and Fisheries, to investigate. Numerous extracts from the evidence are inserted in 

 the report, much of this evidence given by witnesses of long experience, and in many 

 cases of very great age. Some of the Shad fishermen who appeared before the Com- 

 mission were over ninety years of age, and many were over eighty. The value of 

 testimony from such venerable men needs no comment. 



Part Second embodies the recommendations, and the conclusions on which the 

 Commissioners came to a unanimous decision; while Part Three is an Interim 

 Eeport, presented during the progress of the Commission, on certain urgent points 

 which seemed to call for attention prior to the completion of the main report and 

 recommendations. 



I feel bound to add, in justice to my able colleagues, Mr. Morrison and Mr. 

 Melanson, that no chairman of a Commission ever had more earnest and hard- 

 working Commissioners, possessed of great practical knowledge and experience 

 which are so invaluable in pursuing an inquiry with so many aspects and complicated 

 phases as the shad fisheries of the Atlantic e«ast of Canada. The Salmon and Gas- 

 pereau fisheries, it may be added, also find a place in the report. 



EDWARD E. PRINCE, Chairman. 



