DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

121
ened flhiog is, in itelf, sufficient to restore the fishery to a healthy condition,
remains u'solved by the experience of this year's fishing. I would beg to mention
that Prince Edw.trd Island packers are differently situated from those on the mainland,
inasmuch as the former have to order their supply of tin and other material, so
as to reitch them belore the close of navigation, that is to say, a year ahead, and I
am given to understand that they have already laid in their stock on the chane of
a fishing season next year. For figures relating to the industry, please see page 125
of this report.
Spring herring can scarcely be regarded as a commercial fishery, but mainly as
supplying bait to the lobster, cod, and mackerel fishers. Total catch, 32,8s3 barrels, of
which 26,000 barrels were used as bait and only about 7,000 barrels put up as food,
This is rather under the figures of last year. The bait supply was nearly sufficient
although, as usual, some schooner loads were imported from the Magdalen Islands.
Late in the year, after returns were in, good catches of fall herring were made
off the coast of King's County and were put on market as food fish, some being sent
fresh to Boston. It has always appeared to me that there is encouragement to pro..
secute the fall herring fishery on a larger scale.
The antity of deep sea fish, cod and hake, cured in 1887, was 34,655 cwt,
against 5 i,52 ewt. this year; details, being 39,06 cwt. of cod, 12,460 cwt
of hake, an increa'e of 12,640 cwt. on cod and 4,221 cwt. on hake, besides an inoreass
of 64,300 pounds of haddock. Fish were large and of good quality, the fishermen, in
general, having gone farther off shore; but for the outer sea a better class of boata
than those in use would be desirable, in fact necessary, before the fisbery can be
pursued to the extent it merits. The scarcer mackerel are the higher the price
anticipated, and hence a number of fishermen were seduced from the safer chance of
codfihing to try their luck at mackerelling; but without improving their prospects.
The oyster fishery was actively prosecuted; with shipments of 35,861 barrels.
I would beg to refer for details to page 17 of the present report, under the heading of
"Oy sters."
Rivers and streams are in good condition. Fish of the rivers and estuaries have
kept up to the average quantity. Salmon are taken only by chance in shore fisheries,
chiefly at St. Peter's Bay, and the quantity is small, this year 1,563 pounds. Several
clean fish have been observed in the rivers, but none were taken. The supply of
breeding salmon seeking the spawning bels, this fall, seems satisfactory. The fishery
officers have had some trouble in preventing spearing. Trout are abundant in every
stream. Smelts do not appear in the record, the close season of April practically
prohibiting them. Eels have become an increasing article of export; last year about
1,000 bbls, this year 1,937 bbls.
There is only one licensed fish-trap, that belonging to J. H. Myrick & Co.,
Tignish, which did not prove a success, and was taken up early.
The dam at the salmon hatchery on Dunk river, Prince Oonnty, having becit
carrled away, for the second time, it has been deemed advisable to close the establish.
ment for the present.
The respective close seasons and other regulations have been, on the whole, well
observed, excepting in a few instances of lobster canning after legal eats, on whiok
due action was taken. A few seizures ot oysters and lobsters have been distributed
to charities.
The short season has let loose a numl'er of additional men to claim fishing
bounty. From the time and exertion needed in catching mackerel this year the
most of them will probably earn their allowance. But (as in previous reports), I
would draw attention to the query—whether fishing bounty is intended for the
catching of herring used merely for bait, and again on fish caught by such bait?
Many bounty claims are based on the catch of herring bait.
The Government cruisers continue to be favorably looked upon by the fishermen
'as a great protection to their interests.
The fishing tonnage is steadily increasing; fourteen small vessels, with 156 tons,
have been added to the fleet. Nets and seines have increased ?,E00 and 1,540