DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

146
into the bay this summer. Capelin were plentiful, but did not remain long. Squid
was abundant in August and September. Four seines were licensed for smelts. They
began to fish on the 10th of October, but did nothing in November, the weather was
too rough for seining. Mr. Phalen has no contravention of the Fisheries Act to
report this season.
ULSP SUB-DIVISION.
Mr, Vibert reports salmon fishing began at Gaspé on the 21st of May. The
eatch was
Poundg.
:Nets . . . 103,655
Angling . 4,870
108,525
A slight increase over last season's return.
is as follows :
The statement of fish taken by anglers
River. No. of Fish. Weight, Pounds.
Grand Pabos...... 13 172
Little Pabos 44 523
Grand River l0i 1653
York 66 1,428
Dartmouth.... 26 546
St. John's 34 543
285 4,870
Cod appeared from Newport to Point St. Peter from the 11th to the 15th June.
The season was a rough one, frequent storms caused the loss of several lives, and
rendered others timid about venturing on the Banks. Iii this way much time and fish
were lost. The autumn monihs were extremely rough, arid the whole season after June
was very unfavorabL for taidng and curing fish. Fishing in Gaspé Bay was very
poor, and mackerel was again a failure. On the 4th July twenty United States
mackerel schooners came into Gaspé Harbor. They left again next day.
Twenty vessels cleared from the port of Gaspé during the season with cargoes
of cod for foreign markets. Two schooners from Gaspé were stranded at Magdalen
River in October. The whaling schooner "Admiration" made her usual whaling
voyage to Grosse Water Bay. She killed six whales, yielding 2,272 gallons of oil.
She encountered unfavorable weather.
Lobsters were not plentiful, and the run was small; 195,957 lbs. were canned
at sixteen factories in the sub-division, a decrease of 115,066 lbs. from last year.
The quantity of smelts shipped to date, 16th November, was 63,166 lbs. They were
scarce in October but became plentiful in November, and were of fine size and quality.
MAUDALEN RIVEB SUBDIVISION.
Mr. Lemleux reports salmon fishing as being about an average. There are very
few nets fished in this sub.division. The cod fishery was better than last year and
the fishermen were not disturbed by the white porpoises. The weather was rough
during the whole season. Had it not been for this, the catch of cod would have been
large, as fish at times were very abundant. Bait was scarce, being kept off shore by
the heavy swell.