THE GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE. 19 



Strong westerly winds increase the strength of the current, which after a long continuation 

 of them sometimes runs at the rate of two to three miles an hour. As a rule, -however, the tides 

 run slowly. Fishing is often hindered by floating field ice, which sometimes prevents the vessels 

 from reaching the grounds until late in the season. About 1860 and 1861, cod and halibut were 

 found abundantly on these grounds; but later the halibut almost wholly disappeared, and for 

 several years they have been taken only occasionally. Cod are still quite plentiful in Maj^ and 

 June, at which time they are moving slowly in by the head-land, on their way to the shoaler 

 grounds of the Bay of Saint Lawrence. 



This flsbing-ground is resorted to by both provincial and United States vessels, but, owing to 

 the difSculties alluded to above, the fleet is usually small. 



Cod and Haiibxjt Geoxjnds.— Vessels from the United States used to frequent the Gulf of 

 Saint Lawrence both for cod and halibut, but mainly for the former species, until the trips became 

 unprofitable from the scarcity and small size of the fish obtained, and until the introduction of 

 trawls, with which better results could be obtained on the outer fishing-banks. Vessels on their 

 way to Northern Labrador would sometimes harbor along the shores of the Straits of Belle Isle, 

 and fish from small boats to make up a portion of their catch. Several attempts were also mjde 

 for cod by Gloucester vessels on the Natashquan cod-banks. Southern Labrador, but the trips 

 never paid, and the grounds have since been neglected. 



From 1868 to about 1875, Gloucester vessels resorted to the southern coast of Labrador, 

 between the parallels of 60° and 66° west longitude, and the coast of Anticosti in search of 

 halibut. These fish approach quite close to the shores in pursuit of capelin or other small fish, 

 and were caught in considerable numbers within two or three miles of the coast, in five to twelve 

 fathoms of water. As a rule, the halibut were of medium size and fine quality, but they were not 

 nearly so plentiful as in the more recently worked "deep water" of the outer banks. The principal 

 disadvantage of carrying on this fishery was that the bait (herring) had to be obtained in the 

 southern part of the Gulf, and would often become old and unfit for use before a gchool of halibut 

 could be found, as it sometimes happened that a long stretch of shore would have to be skirted in 

 search of the fish; the distance from market was great, and head winds were usually encountered 

 on the passage, at least as far as Canso, and, finally, the fish decreased so much in numbers that 

 the trips would no longer pay.' Vessels have visited this region within three years,, but none of 

 them have secured good catches. The halibut grounds of Anticosti were mainly on the northern 

 side of the island, with the same depths of water as on the Labrador coast. 



The western coast of Newfoundland likewise furnished cod and halibut grounds in former years 

 for United States vessels, but they have also been nearly deserted for the outer banks. The prin- 

 cipal localities where halibut were taken were Saint George's Bay, Eed Island, Port au Port Bay, 

 Bay of Islands, and Green Point; but no important catches have been made in any of these places 

 excepting Green Point for a number of years. Green Point was given up at the same time as the 

 others, but fishing began there argain in 1878, and more or less fish have been taken nearly every year' 

 since. At Eed Island, a French fishing station, foreign vessels are not permitted to fish, but in a 

 few instances the Gloucester vessels were allowed to carry away all the halibut they could secure by 

 giving over to the French fishermen whatever cod were taken on their hooks. This practice has 

 since been abandoned, however, and United States vessels have never resorted extensively to this 

 region for cod. Several trials for cod were made in the winter of 1861 and 1862, but such small 

 fares were obtained as to discourage the fishermen. Similar attempts have been occasionally made 

 since then, but always with the same results, due perhaps more to the severity of the weather than 

 to the scarcity of fish. It should be remembered, however, that all these attempts were made in 



