COASTS OF CAPE BRETON AIs'D jS^OVA SCOTIA. 23 



ami down^the southern coast as far as Gaspe Basin, only a thin and narrow band of flood tide 

 running upward between the eddy flood and the coast line. 



" On the days of full and change of the moon it is high water at noon both at Point de Monts 

 and Cape Chatte, and high water later and later down the coast, so that at Cape Eozier it is one 

 hour thirty minutes before it is high tide there. 



" In other words, the flood tide rushing up the deep midchaunel between Cape Eozier and 

 Anticosti Island passed up more than an hour and a half before the eddy flood tide returned 



coastwise to Cape Eozier. 



" Bayfield states that there is a very narrow flood tide close inshore running westerly along 

 the Gasp6 coast inside of the eddy flood. These currents moving so constantly in opposite direc- 

 tions, and close inshore, tend to produce the continuous line of eddies which cause the free- 

 swimming food of the macTj-erel to be found near to the land, and make that portion of the estuary ' 



a mackerel ground. 



'■ On the north shore of the estuary, between Mingan and Point de Monts, the periods of high 

 water at full change of the moon are altogether different. The tidal wave reaches Mingan Island 

 at- 1.30, Seven Islands at 1.40, Cawee Island at 1.50, English Point at 2, and a few miles farther 

 on it meets the ebb tide two hours old sweeping past Point de Monts. 



" The flood tide on the north shore is only about three leagues broad. The strength of the 

 stream is greatest inshore, and beyond three leagues from the coast it becomes insensible.^ 



" The eddies produced in the bays between Moisie and Point de Monts by this inshore flood 

 tide throw in and. keep the food near the coast line. 



" Hence it is that the flood tide on the north shore flowing westerly and the eddy flood on 

 the south shore flowing easterly, with a thin belt of westerly flowing flood between it and the 

 land, produce inshore eddies, which concentrate the free-swimming food of the mackerel, hereafter 

 described, on these coasts. 



" The strength of the current in deep water off shore, on the south coast of the estuary of the 

 Saint Lawrence, is stated to be sufficient to prevent fishing operations there, thus offering a 

 practical diflculty, which is repeated on some parts of the northern shore during high tides. 



"In the Bay of Chaleurs, where the tides are regular, the mackerel ground of the day depends 

 upon the wind. A southerly wind converts the south side of the bay into a lee shore, and the 

 fish are found chiefly on that side, especially toward Nepissiguit Bay. When the wind is north- 

 erly the G-asp6 becomes a lee shore, and the fish are chiefly found between Bonaventure Island 

 and Paspebiac, and on toward Cascapedia Bay. It has already been observed that mackerel 

 and surface feeders generally swim with open mouths against the wind and tide. The cause 

 ' which brings the mackerel from the south shore to the north shore arises from the fact that in 

 the natural pursuit of their surface food against the wind they are brought up by the land,, 

 and finding food in the tidal eddies there, they pursue their course inshore against the tidal 

 currents, until a change in the wind induces them to cross again to the opposite shore, where 

 similar conditions prevail. On the gulf coast of Cape Breton the set of the currents is oftentimes 

 inshore." 



5. THE OUTER COASTS OF CAPE BRETON ISLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA, INCLUDING THE BAY 



OF FUNDY. 



OuTEE COAST OF Cape Bbeton ISLAND AND NovA ScoTiA.— Shore flshing-grounds for cod 

 exist along the entire outer coast of this region. They are located on the so-called shore soundings, 

 which range in depth from about ten to fifty fathoms, tho average width of this coast belt being 



' Sailing Directions for the Saint Lawrence. 



