522 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [32] 



What this exceptional scarcity of cod is due to no one seems able to 

 tell. Various causes are assigned, but they are generally without proper 

 foundation. The fishermen, at least those who have any knowledge of 

 fish culture, hope that some remedy may be found in the artificial 

 propagation of cod. 



The scarcity of cod around the coast of Newfoundland in recent years 

 has led to a considerable change in the fishery. Instead of depending 

 almost entirely upon inshore fishing, the tendency in recent years has 

 been to engage more extensively in the offshore bank fishery, and this 

 has also lately come to supersede, to some extent, the Labrador coast 

 fishery. As a matter of fact, the condition of the Labrador cod-fishery 

 has been nearly as bad as that on the northeast coast of Newfoundland. 



On July 26, when I met Captain Manuel at Toulinguet, he reported 

 that the catch of cod on the Labrador coast, up to that time, had been 

 very meagre. The fleet had not got beyond Battle Harbor on account of 

 ice, and there was much anxiety felt by all concerned in the fisheries 

 as to the outcome for the season. Many feared that the cod-fishery 

 would be almost a total failure. In the early part of August, when we 

 were at the Strait of Belle Isle, the prospect was little if any better. 



It is possible that in future years the cod-fishery of the Labrador 

 coat>t and eastern Newfoundland may regain something of its former 

 importance. But there is reason to believe that, at least for many 

 years, it will not be of sufficient proportions to offer any inducement 

 for American fishermen to engage in it, if, indeed, the catch is sufficient 

 to maintain the coast population and prevent semi-starvation. 



The cod-fishery at Mingan and adjacent localities had been fairly 

 prosperous, though the fishermen had met some difficulty in obtain- 

 ing a full supply of bait. The fishermen at Perce were disposed to 

 complain somewhat of a scarcity of cod, but from all that could be 

 learned I inferred that the season's catch had been pretty well up to 

 the average. The conclusion arrived at is sustained by the following, 

 extracted from the report on the fisheries of the province of Quebec, 

 by Commander Wakeham: 



" Cod-fishing began late, it being the 10th of June before the fish 

 struck in. The yield was about the same as in 1880, with a difference 

 of 3,050 cwts. in favor of this season. The catch was large about the 

 end of June and beginning of July, and every one looked forward to 

 an unusually successful fishery, but during August and September bait 

 became uncertain, and in October and November the weather was so 

 rough that it became impossible to carry on the fishery. When the 

 weather was line and the boats could go out, fish were found abund- 

 ant everywhere. It was noticed this year that cod went higher up 

 Bay des Chaleurs, and in greater quantities than for many years past. 

 The same fact was noticed on the north shore; for many years, say 

 fifteen at least, no cod has been taken above Point des Monts; this 

 season fish were abundant right up to the Manicouagau. It is generally 



