THE PICKLED-HERRING TRADE. 461 
The fish arrive about the 1st of May and continue in great numbers through the spawning 
season, entirely disappearing about the 1st of June.* : 
ANTICOSTI.—Anticosti is an island about 30 miles wide by 120 miles long, lying in the mouth 
of the Saint Lawrence River, about 90 miles north by west from the Magdalens, with good fishing 
grounds along almost any portion of its coast. The principal herring grounds, however, are about 
East Cape, the eastern extremity of the island. The fishing is at its height during the month of 
June, and vessels failing to load up at the Magdalens can reach this island in time to secure their 
fares. On account of an abundance of herring at other and more convenient places, few of the 
American vessels visit this locality. 
NEWFOUNDLAND.—Various portions of the coast of Newfoundland are visited by herring, and 
they are taken, to a greater or less extent, in all of the larger bays and harbors. The principal 
fishing grounds, however, are Fortune Bay, on the southern side, and Bonne Bay and Bay of 
Islands, on the western shore, these being almost the only ones visited by the American vessels in 
search of pickled herring. 
Bonne Bay is situated on the western shore of the island, about midway between the Straits 
of Belle Isle and Cape Ray. It is a small, deep-water bay, with two arms, the southernmost of 
which is frequented by the herring in the largest numbers. 
Bay of Islands is situated about 25 miles further south, and is not only a larger but a more 
important fishing ground. This bay also has several arms extending 15 or 20 miles into the inte- 
rior, and, like those of Bonne Bay, they are very deep. The principal fishing is in the southern 
arm, locally known as the “Sou’west Arm.” 
The fish are found in this region during the greater part of the year, visiting it in early spring 
for the purpose of spawning and remaining through the season to feed upon the numerous small 
crustacea that are so abundant in these waters. When they arrive in the spring they are quite poor, 
but with such quantities of food they soon become very fat, and those caught in the fall are consid- 
ered superior to those taken on the American coast. 
The vessels occasionally visit Bonne Bay and Bay of Islands in the spring when failing to secure 
fares at the Magdalens, but the principal fishing occurs in the fall. The fleet usually arrive in 
October and leave about the last of December, though they are frequently obliged to leave 
somewhat earlier to prevent being frozen in by the ice that forms in the bays. Vessels remaining 
too long have frequently been caught in the ice and have been detained until the following spring. 
Fortune Bay, though occasionally visited by the pickled-herring fleet, is more frequently 
resorted to by vessels engaged in the frozen-herring trade, and will be more properly considered 
under that head. 
*The following, taken from a table published by Mr. H. Y. Hind, gives the time of arrival of the herring at the 
Magdalen Islands each season from 1861 to 1876, inclusive: 
. 
Pash of Fe ed of j 
Year, flrsteppenr| ar, _ratappear 
herring. herring. 
1861.......... May 1. || 1860..........|......2.206- 
1862s ccasiceoee May 2. 1870 casanveas April 15. 
1863 May 17. 21-7) Coenen May 8. 
1864 May 1. 1872 ......... May 3. 
1865..--.-.... April 27. 1873......---- April 27 
1866......... April 25. WT hicaaen vows May 2. 
1867...-...... May 7. 1875......---- May 6. 
BOB: 5 ois, occuinin: i[eiancciare aie aera 1876.......-.. May 5. 
