262 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Did you happen to know that the smelt output of the Dominion is now upward of 5,000 tons 
annually; that the monetary value is a half million dollars, and that only a few years ago the fish 
were taken for fertilizing uses? 
On January 5, 1907, the same publication, quoting the P. E. I. Agriculturist, 
said: 
As many as thirty fine boxes [of smelts] were taken in one “draw” quite recently. At this 
rate there is a little fortune in the business and if there be no extended break in the winter com- 
munications many of our fishermen will make more during the winter months than any of us. 
A few of the fisherman have, we are told, discarded the purse net and take smelts, as they 
catch herring, in old-fashioned gill nets which lets the little ones through. This is the only method 
by which the smelt fishing will be preserved and which ought to be adopted by all fishermen. 
Again, the Halifax correspondent of the same journal, on March 9, 1907, says: 
Apropos of dainty food fish, Capt. Sol Jacobs, the noted mackerel king, recently sent the first 
shipment of Newfoundland smelts to Boston across to Sydney and then by rail. These smelts 
averaged four to the pound and proved excellent in flavor. Should the supply be sufficient a large 
demand will doubtless spring up. 
In 1912, five years later, Henry S. Culver, the consul at St. John, New Brunswick, 
stated that smelt fishing in New Brunswick, which he said commenced the 1st of 
December, was an important industry, the catch of 1911 having amounted to 
726,661 pounds. 
In 1913, Theodosius Batkin, the consul at Campbellton, New Brunswick, wrote: 
Smelt, which only a few years ago were caught solely for fertilizing purposes by the farmers, are 
now an ever increasing source of revenue. In 1911 over 691,000 pounds, valued at $46,553, were 
exported by carload lots to American markets. In 1912 more than 1,120,000 pounds, valued f. o. b. 
at $63,595, were sent to American centers. These figures do not include the numerous exports by 
express and otherwise where the value of the shipment fell below $100. Most of the smelts are 
taken at the mouths of the Restigouche and other streams near by. 
On December 1, 1916, E. Verne Richardson, the consul at Moncton, New 
Brunswick, reported: "Opening of the smelt season in the Province of New Bruns- 
wick, begins to-day.” He stated that consular invoices certified at the Moncton 
consulate during the calender year showed shipments of smelts to the United States 
totaling 880,176 pounds, valued at $56,395, or a little over 12 cents per pound 
average selling price. 
Quantity, in hundredweights , and value of the smell fishery of all Canada, eastern Canada, and New 
Brunswick from 1913 to 1934, and average 'price per pound in New Brunswick 
Year 
. 
All Canada 
Eastern Canada 
New Brunswick 
Hundred- 
weight 
Value 
Hundred- 
weight 
Value 
Hundred- 
weight 
Value 
Price per 
pound 
1913 
73, 937 
$689, 959 
73, 937 
$689, 959 
60, 117 
$601, 170 
$0. 100 
1914 
90, 389 
713, 501 
90, 389 
713,501 
65, 189 
651,890 
. 100 
1915 
62, 143 
562, 064 
02, 143 
562, 004 
52,961 
529, 610 
. 100 
1910 
66, 109 
S25, 115 
66, 109 
825, 115 
55, 025 
715, 112 
. 129 
1917 
69, 780 
994, 545 
69, 780 
994, 545 
55, 703 
834,415 
. 149 
1918 
82, 638 
925, 625 
82, 638 
925, 625 
69, 937 
801,244 
. 114 
1919 
75, 271 
835, 195 
74, 023 
820,513 
54, 963 
611,839 
. Ill 
1920 
58, 118 
789, 361 
56, 749 
773, 425 
40, 041 
565, 279 
. 141 
1921 
84. 597 
835, 393 
82, 780 
815, 963 
62, 042 
589, 804 
.095 
1922 
83, 268 
934, 608 
82, 868 
930, 194 
62, 680 
731, 151 
. 116 
1923 __ - 
65, 254 
868. 629 
04, 218 
858, 929 
43,210 
475, 523 
. 110 
1924 
90, 066 
1, 146, 673 
88, 926 
1, 134, 500 
63, 975 
844, 730 
. 132 
