DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

104
ST. JOHN COUNTY.
Overseer O'Brien, reports as Iollows :—" The
catch of salmon was smaller than
last year. A falling off of over 30 per cent. is shown in the catch of alewives coin.
pared with last year, but higher prices in some measure compensated for the short
eatch. Shad and herring gave about the same returns as last year. Lobsters were
out as usual. The catch is very large in St. John County; though of late the
Eurplus from home consumption is sent in ice to Eastport and Boston." Mr. 0' Brien
urges that a close time for alewives be made from 1st July to 1st April, the effect of
which would be very beneficial in increasing the future supply.
Overseer Rourice, of St. Martin's, reports about average catches of herring and
lobsters, which are the oniy fishes the capture of which is pursued with any energy in
this district. Line fishing for pollock and cod is not followed to the same extent as
formerly; but a small quantity of each was taken, principally for home use. The
inland waters abound with fine trout; and some few salmon are still found in Salmon
River, the principal stream in the district.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY.
Overseer Todd, of St. Croix district, reports that, excepting sardine herring,
the catch of all kinds of fish was smaller than last year. Three or four of the her..
ring weirs were very successful, and in the early part of the season brought good
prices. Salmon were scarcer than last year, The fishways are in good condition
and have been kept open at all proper times. The two night guardians, one hired
by the American Commissioners fortheir side of the river, and one hired by Mr.
Todd for the New Brunswick side, have put a stop to the drifting and illegal fishing
which formerly prevented any increase and thus rendered nugatory all efforts to restock
the river. This season 300,OCO young salmon were planted in the St. Croix
below Vanceboro' from which good results are hoped.
Overseer campbell, of St. Andrew's Bay, says: "1 am sorry to have to report
that fishing in the bay has been very unprofitable, not from scarcity of fish, but f?om
want of a market for sardine herring. Winter fishing was not good. The fish dik
enter the bay in large numbers, and our small boats could not pursue them outside.
Lobster fishing was not followed with much energy. The canneries in Maine were
elosed, and the small catch was sold fresh in Eastport. The land-locked salmon fry
that were put into Ohamcook Lakes some year s since appear to have done well. A
number of fine fish were caught there with the fly this summer. The high prices
paid for sardines in l86 and 187 and the good catches made by a few fortunate
'weirs, induced a perfect craze for weir licenses and a large number of new weirs was
-built and preparations made for a large business. In the early part of the season
fish were plentiful and brought good prices, when the Bastport buyers combined to
fix the price at $5 per hogshead. The weir men struck, held a meeting at St. An
drew's and agreed to take no fish from their weirs until the price was left to open
competition. This strike lasted only a fortnight, for, contrary to their usual habits,
the small herring remained about Deer Island, Campo Bello and the American shore
and the factories got all they required from these places, at prices so low that the
mere labor of tending the weirs was not paid for. While sardines were thus more
plentiful than usual, large herring fit for selling or smoking were very scarce, and
some parties commenced using the small herring for manure. The presence of the
cruiser, the "Dream," gave force to my warnings, and the destruct inn of young fink
was prevented. I may add that Captain Pratt was a buy ii keeping our own
fishermen within legal bounds, as in preventing poaching by our American neigh-.
born, and that his presence is much needed in Charlotte County."
Overseer Ash, of Beaver Harbor, reports an increased catch of all kinds of fish.
While sardines were more than usually numerous, the low price was very disco urag-.
ing to fishermen, who made a poor season and would have felt it more severely had
live fish not been plentiful and sold for good prices. An average catch of lo bstera
found a ready market in Eastport. The low price of sardines offered no inducement
for torching and thin objectionable mode of fishing was not pursued this season.