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bay did nothing. He is glad, however, to report that the deep sea fishery upon the<br />
whole has been good, although the very rainy weather seriously interfered with<br />
curing them. The lobster firms had a profitable season's work, and prices of all kinds<br />
of fish were good. The fishermen of his district have happily been free from dis.<br />
aster of any kind, and they are likely to subsist very well through the coming<br />
winter on their summer's earnings. The fishery laws, with but very few exceptions,<br />
were well observed.<br />
Overseer James A. Collins, of Westport, reports a prosperous season for the fisher.<br />
men of his district, the catch of live fish having exceeded that of 1887, while prices<br />
were much higher. The catch of lobsters was about equal to that of last year..<br />
There was a remarkable increase in the export of fresh haddock. This branch of<br />
the fisheries is becoming more important each year, and is now being carried on a<br />
good part of the winter when weather permits. The laws and regulations were well<br />
observed in Mr Collins' district. It appears to him that power should be given to<br />
the overseers to regulate the setting of lobster traps and herring nets, as constant<br />
disputes arise on account of overcrowding among the fishermen; and the evil seems<br />
to be growing worse with each succeeding year. The supply of bait is likely to be a<br />
very serious matter in the near future. Ho thinks the scarcity of herrings is partly<br />
eawed by the destruction of vast quantities of small ones by the weirs of Grand<br />
Manan and Annapolis Basin. He also calls attention to the large quantities of vari<br />
ous kinds of small fish destroyed each year by the various traps along the adjacent<br />
ishores of Yarmouth. Immense quantities of these fish are hauled away by farinera<br />
in the vicinity and used for manure. Squid are much used for bait, but the supply<br />
is precious and uncertain. Mr. Collins again urges the importance of protecting the<br />
upper part of St. Mary's Bay as a spawning ground. Trawling should be prohibited<br />
there during a portion of the year. No mackerel were taken and they appear to<br />
have wholly deserted that part of the coast for a time. Having had a good catch of<br />
fish, and having realized good prices for the same, the fishermen appear to be well.<br />
satisfied with the present conditions of things, and do not regret th s rejection of the<br />
treaty, which they consider would have been of little or no benefit to them.<br />
auYsBOao' COUNTY.<br />
Overseer James A. Tory, of Guysboro', reports the fisheries of his district for the<br />
past season to have been a fearful failure, and in some respects and in some localities.<br />
nearly a total one, which leaves many persons unprovided for the winter. The<br />
lobster fishery proved the best, and had it not been for the shortening of the fishing<br />
season the overseer has no doubt, it would have exceeded former years. The packers<br />
reported that the quantity at the close of that season was quite equal to former<br />
seasons of the same date, but a downward tendency in size. The employment of<br />
inspectors did good service in the protection of the small and female fish frouL<br />
destruction, and it is hoped the Department will continue such service. Mr. Tory<br />
suggests a plan or scheme that would be less expensive, viz.: "There are now too<br />
many canneries in operation, and the opposition to each other is so great that strong<br />
inducements are held out to the fishermen to violate the regulations, besides most of<br />
them are owned by foreigners, and they should be compelled to contribute towards<br />
the protection of a fishery from which tbey derive such a source of income. No<br />
cannery should be allowed to traffic in lobsters without first obtaining a license for<br />
that purpose, and the amount should not be less than $50 each. This should go to<br />
form a fund to pay the inspectors, which would make it almost a solf.sustaining<br />
arrangement." Live fish, especially cod, were a fair catch, but not equal to last<br />
year. The shortage was principally owing to the Grand Bank vessels having been sold<br />
or transferred to other porta Herring was only about a half catch as compared with<br />
tsst year. Mackerel, on their first appearance in the spring, bid fair for a good season's<br />
catch, but all were doomed to disappointment, br no sooner did they appear than<br />
they were attacked by the American fleet of purse seinet a which caused them to<br />
leave the coast, and the result was none entered the bays or harbors, and virtually a<br />
total failure to the flsheinen was the result, excepting a night or two along the