You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
S<br />
38<br />
pIiance with the regulation is going to be very hard on them, and that some say<br />
they will have to give up the business entirely if the law is enforced.<br />
Overseer R. J. Follock, of Lower Stewiacke, reports abundance of smelts. The<br />
aeasoi was more favorable for shad fishing than last, and more were caught. The<br />
continual fall of rain kept the water too high for salmon fishing, and consequently<br />
less time was necessary for looking after the river. The fall salmon were quite<br />
plenty. Two poachers were caught and fined. He says the mill men are makingS<br />
preparal ions to dispose of their sawdust otherwise than by putting it into the streams.<br />
Overseer J. W. Davison, of Little Bass River, reports that for the past several<br />
years he has been obliged to report a decline in the shad fishing, and he is sorry to<br />
be obliged to report a still further falling off for the past year, but the fishermen<br />
being discouraged by former years' results, did not make extensive preparations.<br />
In proportion to the appai atus used, the falling off is not so great as would seem.<br />
Salmon, cod and herring were about as plentitul in the bay as in the previous year,<br />
but the same effort was not made to take them. Salmon were as plentiful in the<br />
rivers as for some years past, with abundance of water for them to ascend the<br />
rivers. He is not aware of any attempts at poaching. As to the falling off in the'<br />
shad fishery from year to year. Mr. Davison says it is difficult to account for. He<br />
has heard many reasons and theories given, but to his mind very few of them seem<br />
reasonable. So far back as his memory goes there has been a continual fluctuation.<br />
Sometimes for a few years good catches will be made, then perhaps for one or twc<br />
years they will fall to something very small, and so on. The catch for this year wa&<br />
the smallest for forty years. lie has been informed by some of the oldest inhabitants<br />
that in the years 1845-46, when but small preparations were made for fishing,<br />
and at a time when the decline could not be chargeable to over-fishing, some weire<br />
only took about one barrel of shad, and people concluded the fish were leaving the<br />
bay and consequently on the following year (1847) did not set their weirs. How..<br />
ever, in a few years they returned as before. Mr. Davison recommends a close<br />
aeason from the 1st January to 10th June.<br />
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.<br />
Overseer Wm. Murphy, of Wallace, reports that salmon did not appear in the<br />
Wallace River till about the 5th October, and owing to the continuation of rainy<br />
weather they did not ascend the river till early in November, but were seen in large<br />
schools near the head of the tide. Men who were scowing stone informed him if<br />
they had possessed nets and they were allowed to fish, very large quantities couId<br />
have been taken. Early in November large numbers went up the river and could be<br />
aeon by dozens, both above and below Rhindrer's dam. Mr. Murphy feels confident<br />
there was an iiicrease of 50 per cent. over last year, and all sceptics now admit that<br />
salmon have returned to Wallace River, and that fishways afford every requirement<br />
for their ascent up the river.<br />
Herring again returned in great quantities, both at Mal'gash, and Oak Island.<br />
An increase of two hundred barrels were taken, and thousands might have been, had<br />
people been so disposed.<br />
Alewives were more numerous than for twenty years. The catch was double of<br />
last year. Smelts were very scarce, but brought a high price. Shad appear to be<br />
improving, but there is only effort on the part of one man to catch them. Eels are<br />
abundant, but not fished for. The same thing may be said of bass. Lobsters were<br />
plenty and of fair size. Some of the largest catch ever made in his district were<br />
those of the past season.<br />
On account of their passage through the fishways trout are becoming more<br />
plentiful in the head of the iiver. Oysters are almost becoming a thing of the past,<br />
and will become wholly so unless fishing is wholly prohibited for a number of years<br />
DIOBY.<br />
Overseer William Hanley, of Digby, reports the mackerel, shad and herring<br />
Usheries at the head of St. Mary's Bay as fsilures. The six trap nets set in thit
Change language