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94<br />
This falling off in the catch in these counties has been steady and continuous ever<br />
since bagnets were first used for catching smelts. Northumberland shows this<br />
decrease in a very marked manner, because the greatest deBtruction of young bass<br />
was done in the Miramichi River, between Middle Island and Newcastle. In the<br />
year 176, when bag-nets were first used in that county, the catch of bass was<br />
217,179 pounds. This year the catch was little more than one-.tenth, being only<br />
23,077 pounds. I see no hope of any improvement in this fishery in these counties<br />
as long as bag-nets are allowed where young bass congregate in the fall. On the<br />
contrary, nothing can be more certain than the speedy extinction of the fishery. In<br />
the St. John River counties, where bag-nets are unknown, and where the fish are<br />
fairly protected, they are increasing.<br />
SRAD.<br />
The slight increase of 1,000 barrels that marked the catch of last year, has this<br />
year given place to a decrease of 3,681 barrels, and yet the season was not unfavor—<br />
able for fishing, and the demand, at enhanced prices, was beyond the supply. The<br />
cause is very plain, and has been pointed out constantly in all my annual and special<br />
reports for the last ten years, over-fishing and the want of a weekly close time<br />
sufficient to enable fish to reach their spawning pla'3e8 and perform their procreative<br />
functions. As long as these causes continue the catch will grow less, and if they<br />
are not soon removed, this fishery also will cease to be a profitable occupation. As<br />
this year was marked by an unusual run of shad in American rivers, it devolves<br />
on those theorists who assert that the Bay of Fundy shad come from American rivers<br />
to feed, after having spawned there, to explain how it is when shad are plentiful in<br />
American waters we see no increase in our waters. The plain and simple fact is<br />
that over-fishing has exhausted the stock once so plentiful in our waters, and no<br />
improvement can be looked for by sensible men until the fish are protected and the<br />
parents allowed to spawn. Fishermen at the head of the bay are asking for some<br />
measures, but to apply those there and exempt the Harbor and River of St. John,<br />
will do nopractical good, for all caught in the spring in estuary, harbor and river<br />
are gravid fish, while those caught at the head of the bay are fish that have already<br />
spawned and left the river to feed and recuperate.<br />
ALEWIVES.<br />
This fish shows a decrease of nearly 3,000 barrels from the small catch of last<br />
year. As compared with 1s85 the falling off is over 8,000 barrels. The bulk of the<br />
whole is made in the estuary and harbor of St. John when the gravid fish are ascending<br />
the river to spawn, and as there is practically no close time except from daylight<br />
to dark on Sunday, there can be no improvement looked for while the over-fishing<br />
continues. The close time should be from Friday night to Ionday morning, and the<br />
destruction of young fish by the harbor weirs, under control of the corporation of the<br />
city, should be prevented, by making them cease fishing when the spent fish and<br />
young fry are coming down the river.<br />
SMELTS.<br />
When, in 1876, this fishery commenced on a large scale with bag nets, I foresaw,<br />
that, as in the New England States, the supply could not stand the enormous annual<br />
drafts made on it, and that like causes would under the same circumstances, produce<br />
like effects, at that time bag-nets had exhausted the smelts from New York to East-.<br />
port, and their further use was prohibited. On the 6th January, 1871, I made a<br />
comprehensive report to the then Minister, setting forth the facts, illustrated by'<br />
specimens of the catch then being made in the counties of Gloitcester and North-.<br />
umberland. This was printed as an appendix to my annual report for 1876, and<br />
will be found in the blue-book for that year, Appendix No. 14, page 269, to which<br />
I respectfully call attention in order that you may see the facts as they existed at<br />
the commencement of this fishery, which all subsequent experience has confirmed.