4 SHAD Fh^HKRV CO l/l//X.S/Oy 



true of the salmon the opposite is manifest in the shad which has steadily declined 

 for the last twenty-five or thirty years, and the. shad, it may be noted, has not been 

 long included in the Dominion system of fish culture and has been excluded from 

 proper protective regulations. 



In view of the condition which now exists and abundantly established by the 

 mass of evidence received at the sittings of the commission, we submit a first series 

 of the recommendations which we regard as urgent and calling for immediate sanction. 



Various causes have no doubt combined to bring about the present serious con- 

 dition of the shad fishery. Amongst these may be mentioned : — 



(1) Dams and other obstructions in rivers, preventing the jrarent fish from ascend- 

 iing to their spawning grounds. 



(2) Catching the breeding fish when ascending the river to spawn. 



(3) Overfishing by seines, weirs and nets. 



(4) The pollution of rivers and feeding grounds by sawdust and mill refuse 

 and other deleterious substances, one of the most flagrant cases being the Kenuetcook 

 river, Hants county, at one time a fine shad and salmon river. 



EECOMMENDATIOlSrS OF THE COiDHSSIOX. 



The recommendations we beg to make are as follows: — 

 (1)—Shad Nets in Tidal Waters Only. 



The use of nets and other apparatus for the capture of shad shall be confined to 

 tidal waters only. Except that the St. John river, Xew Brunswick, and its tri- 

 butaries nets only shall be allowed above the Reversible falls, and nets and other appa- 

 ratus below the said falls. 



(We note that the Fisheries Act. Sect. 16 applies to salmon onl.v.) 



(2) — Annual close time for Shad and Salmon and open season for Salmon Nets of 

 6 J inch mesh. 

 The use of nets for the taking of shad and salmon to be prohibited from August 

 15 to July 1, in the year next following, and during three consecutive seasons 

 thereafter, provided that salmon nets of a mesh not less than 6J inches extension 

 measure may be used from March 1 to August 15. 



(3) — Weelly close time for Salmon, Shad and Gaspereau. 



From the time of low water nearest six o'clock in the afternoon of every Satur- 

 day to the time of low water nearest six o'clock in the forenoon of every Monday no 



one shall fish for, catch or kill salmon, shad or gaspereau in tidal waters, excepting 

 in the estuary and waters of the Port Medway, &c. (Vide IS. S. Fishy. Kegs. Sec. 10. 

 ss. 2.) 



(4) — Gates in Brush Weirs. 



In the waters of the Bay of Fundy all brush weirs, of whatever description, shall 

 be provided with gates, placed in the hurdle or deepest place; such gates to have an 

 opening of at least eight feet in length by four feet in height, hinged at the top with 

 iron straps, and provided with suiEcient tackle attached to an upright timber, so that 



