^ 



l)p«i(lrs mnny others in the States of Maine, New Ilnnipshiro, Rhode tsland, 



("imiici'ticiit, nii(i Si'w York, it is liiir id iiil'cr that a corrpspoiKliiif!; increasf in the 

 lixliin;;- ilccl rroin llicso iiiiiiiri'otis ports will alsi) lake place now that the Canadian 

 li>lieri(s are reopened to I heir vessels. Tliesi! live Stales added 213 sehoonerH to 

 their li>.hini;- llee( in l> piI. when the 'ndneenients to hnild were less eurtain. There 

 is, ihert'lore, j;ood reason to anticipate that in the conrse ol' the twelve years 

 stipid.'il<-<l in I lie present Treaty a still )>;reater inipetns will lie (riven to the lishinp; 

 inmislry and eomn\eree ol" the United Slates. Siieh a result may be niortJ conti- 

 denllv e\peeted in eonsetpienee ol' the rapid increase oC popidation and extension 

 of settlements, ihe more niimcrons markets opened ii|) \>y railway enterprises, and 

 the p;ro\\ in^ driiKind lor lish food Ironi the sealiourd to replace the failing snpplieH 

 i'rom inland waters. 



'J'he withdrawal of New JMitjland tonnage from the wnale lishery, in conHe- 

 (pience of the rapid decline of that pursuit ."is a payiui; adventure, will most likely 

 have tile cireet of eii;;ai;inf;' other .-.'lii in the more lucrative l)ranehes of marine 

 industry. Mr. U. I). Culls, in an able Heport to the United States' (iovcrnment on 

 Ihe political impnrlance and econnrnic conditions of the Kisiieries, expresses some 

 apprehension of the iniminent failure of the cod and other fisheries on the (iraiid 

 iianks. Should such ensue, it would prohahle en<>'age additional tonnage in the 

 in-shorc lisheries around the coasts of Canada. 



We are, thcrelore, warranted in reckoning" a yearly average number of vessels 

 as availin;; themselves of ihe privile;;es accorded io United States" citizens by the 

 'i'reaty of Washington .il about l,()n(», reserving the right to show the probability 

 of a still larger lumber being so engaged. 



Srroiiil. — American tishermen pursue their calling around the islands and in the 

 harbours of lh(> Hay of Kundy, and along parts of the coasts of Nova Scotia and 

 New Urunswick lionleriiig I lie said lia\ ; down the south coast of Nova Sfoiia, and 

 around the Island of Cape I be! on ; thence through the Strait of Canso, along the 

 northern eoast of Xova Scolia and New Urunswiek ; thene(' through the Strait of 

 Noi Ihiunberland. and all around I'riiiee Kdward Island, particularly on its western, 

 northern, and eastern coasts, resorting especially to tiie bays and he.rbours of the 

 southern sliore lo lraiisshi|) earg()(>s and proc'iie supplies ; thence into Mirnmichi 

 Mav, the r>ay of Chaleur and (iasp;'' Hay; lluMice around the Magdalen Islands 

 and Antieosii Isl.ind -. tlu'iiee up the south shore of the River St. Lawrence to 

 Father Point, and down the north shore of the Kiver and (Julf of St. Lawrence 

 from Point des Moiits to HIane Sabion Hay. These localities abound with codiish, 

 mackerel, herrings, halibut, haddoel.. poll.iek, hake, and a variety of other and 

 smaller lishes used expressly for bait, such as spring-herring, capelin, smelts, 

 sandlaunce, gaspereaux, also sueli bail as scpiid and clams. These are the principal 

 descrip'ions of lisii captured In I'niled States' citizens in llritish waters. They 

 g'MK rallv Irecpient the inshores, and are there caught in the largest quantities and 

 «)f the llnest (|uality. and with greater certainty and facility than elsewhere. A 

 eonsideralile portion of the eodtish taken by American fishermen is doubtless caught 

 on the banks and ledges cnilside, such asClreen, Miscou, Hradelle, and Orphan Hanks ; 

 and within Treaty limits around the .Magdalen Islands, and on the southern coast 

 of Lai)rador. Latterly it has been the practice to use cod seines close inshore, and 

 to lish wiih trawls and lines near the coast of Nova Scotia, New Urunswiek, Quebec, 

 and .\ntieosti ; there is also a small portion of the other fishes named taken at 

 various distances from the shore. 



A majoiity of the fishing llret frecpienting British waters "being fitted almost 

 exclusively for the mackerel lishery, that pursuit will be first considered as to the 

 quantity taken by each vessel. In an ordinary voyage or "trip" from an 

 American port to the (Julf lishini^ grounds and back, without the liberty of resort- 

 ing freely to the bays, <-reeks, .and harbourJi, and the inshores generally, to fish, 

 relit, tranship, &,c., but with only illicit opportunities to use these privileges, the 

 profits oi each vessel would be comparatively insignilieant ; but being privileged 

 to lish, ami lo land and refit, and to transfer eaeli fare to steamers or railwavs in 

 Canada, and afterwards to replenish sdn-es and resume operations, the vessels 

 woulil retiu-n imnu-diately wiiile the fishing was good, to ealeh a second fare, which 

 IS similarly disposed of. luul would ollen make a third trip before the season closes. 

 Captain P. A. Seoll, ICN.. ol' ll.ilihi\. Nova Scotia, states that these facilities, 

 combined vvilh freedom of inshore fishing, <-nal)le each mackcrelman to average 

 about SOO barrels per season, worth l"J,l()f) dolhus. Captain D. iM. Brown, 

 R.N., of Halifax, makes the same slaleinenl. Captain J. A. Tory, of Cuiysboro, 

 [2aOj L )i 



