You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
24<br />
James Lawlor, a net fisherman, states: "I have taken more salmon this year<br />
than for any season during the past five years. I believe that the hatchery is a great<br />
help towards keeping up the supply."<br />
BENEFITS FROM BEDFORD HLTCRERY, N.S.<br />
Value of the Salmon Fisheries of Hova Scotia enhanced by fish culture.—(From Mr. A.<br />
B. Wilmot's Report.)<br />
"Two large rivers, the Indian and Ingraham, enter St. Margaret's Bay, into<br />
each of which a quota of young salmon has been planted from this hatchery since<br />
1876. Now, by one who had not given the conditions as stated above proper consideration,<br />
and comparing the catch in this bay and its rivers with that of the seasons<br />
before any stocking was done, an inference unfavorable to the effects of the artificial<br />
culture would be drawn. That such a conclusion would be erroneous is shown by<br />
the statistics given by the overseers of the district and found in the returns furnished<br />
the Department of Fisheries by the Inspector of Fisheries for Nova Scotia. By referring<br />
to the report of 1881 it will be found that from the four stations included within<br />
this bay a return of 6,150 lbs. is given as the catch of salmon for that season. From<br />
these same stations the return for 1887 shows a catch of 21,425 pounds, an increase<br />
of 15,275 pounds, or over 250 per cent. larger than that of l88l The intervening years<br />
show considerable fluctuations in the catches, due, no doubt, to adverse winds and unfavorable<br />
circumstances, yet the increase has been continuous. The catch of 1882 in this<br />
bay is given as 1,000 lbs., being an increase of nearly 12,000 lbs. over that of 1881,<br />
and appears to furnish a most striking evidence of the good results from artificial stocking.<br />
i882 was the first year when any increase from this work could be expected<br />
from the first hatching of 176 and 1877, as up to this date these fish would not be<br />
caught in nets of six inch mesh, as are used on our coast, and the returns show a<br />
most prompt and generous response to the efforts put forth by your Department in<br />
the work of fish breeding.<br />
"By referring to the returns for the county of Halifax obtained from the same<br />
sources as the above, a marked increase is shown in the catch of 1887 over that of<br />
1881, being for 1887 79,835 lbs. as against 28,376 lbs. in 1881, an increase of 51,459,<br />
or, in other words, 5,150 salmon of about 10 pounds weight each, which is about the<br />
average weight of the salmon caught on the southern coast of this Province. This<br />
increase would represent in value for this county $10,000. It may be of interest to<br />
your Department to learn at about what cost this result has been obtained, and I<br />
may be excused for endeavoring to show how far this speculation, if it may be so<br />
termed, is paying.<br />
"In order to do this work justice it must be remembered that against the increase<br />
in value, as shown above, only the expenditure at this hatchery from the<br />
years 1876 to 1881, inclusive, should be charged. In 1876 the first hatching was<br />
distributed. These fish would become marketable in six years, in 1882. Those<br />
batched in 1877, in 1883, and so on, so that the return from the hatching of 1881<br />
was due last year, and this is the best official statement we have regarding the condition<br />
of our salmon fisheries. By referring to the expenditure for the years 18-76<br />
to 1881 it will be seen that about $2,500 per year is the average annual cost of this<br />
work, with an output averaging 1,500,000 fry per year. During these years there<br />
were planted in the rivers of this county about 200,000 fry for each year, or a total<br />
in the six years of 1,200,000 which, as per above calculation, cost $2,000. There has<br />
then been an outlay of $2,000 for which we have received a return of $10,000, or $5<br />
for each $1 expended.<br />
"In this calculation, I am assuming that the whole of this increase is due to<br />
artificial culture. This assumption may be open to objection, and for my purpose I<br />
am willing to claim but one-half of this increase; still we have a return of $2 50 for<br />
each $1 invested; this would be equal to about 20 per cent. compound interest for the<br />
six years and should satisfy the most avaricious speculator.