524 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [34] 



(k) Halibut. — It was my original intention to make a series of trials 

 for halibut iu depths varying from 100 to 200 fathoms off the northeast 

 coast of Newfoundland, and especially to the eastward of Belle Isle and 

 Cape Bauld, but the detention at Canada Bay, the probability of the 

 occurrence of fog, and the fact that numerous icebergs were drifting 

 about in the vicinity deterred me from carrying out this part of the 

 plan. As will be seen by reference to the narrative of the voyage, it 

 would have been impracticable to carry on any fishing for several days 

 after we reached the Strait of Belle Isle, where we were detained by a 

 gale. 



The prevalence of unfavorable weather, the difficulties attending the 

 obtainment of a supply of bait, and the time occupied in an effort to 

 obtain specimens of the gray seal at Mingan, prevented the investiga- 

 tion and trials for halibut which I contemplated making in the vicinity 

 of the Mingan Islands. It is to be regretted that the advance of the 

 season and the consequent uncertainty of the weather offered little 

 encouragement for a longer stay. 



It is worthy of mention, however, that experiments made in keeping 

 halibut alive in the well were satisfactory, and there is reason to be- 

 lieve that no special difficulty would be experienced in bringing halibut 

 alive to Wood's Holl from the Gulf of St. Lawrence unless they should 

 die from change of temperature. The two small halibut taken off the 

 Magdalen Islands on the 10th and 13th of July, each lived in the well 

 for several days. When they were taken out for cooking, about a week 

 after they were put in the well, they seemed as vigorous as when they 

 were put in and there were no indications of injury. 



(I) Capelin. — So far as could be learned capeliu occurred in their, usual 

 abundance along the shore of Newfoundland and Labrador, where they 

 are extensively used for bait, and also for food, being dried or salted in 

 greater or less quantities by the fishermen for winter use. They are 

 also fed to hogs. The capelin season was practically over when we 

 reached the coast. While we were at Mingan, on August 18, an at- 

 tempt was made to collect capelin to bait our halibut trawls. The 

 spawning season was over and they were daily growing less abundant 

 along the shore. Occasionally a few would run in near the surf. We 

 obtained about 1 J bushels, of which mention is made elsewhere. At the 

 time of our arrival at Mingau, on August 11, capelin were moderately 

 abundant, sufficiently so for the fishermen to get all the bait they wanted. 



(m) Lobsters. — The lobster fishery is an important industry in several 

 places which we visited. There are a number of canneries on the Mag- 

 dalen Islands, where the packing of lobsters has been carried on for 

 several years. There is, however, a complaint of the growing scarcity 

 of this highly-prized crustacean, and, judging from what I was told, the 

 fishery will soon decline unless some means are adopted to prevent 

 over-fishing. A gentleman at Grindstone Island, who is the manager 

 of a lobster cannery there, stated that lobsters had decreased in size 



