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shore. In connection with the mackerel and herring fishery Mr. Tory is strongly<br />
of opinion the great bulk of those fish are being greatly reduced, and that unless<br />
some regulations are made to protect them the day is not far distant when there<br />
will be none. Catching of fish in their spawning season and the purse seine are the<br />
great destructive elements of those fish. The other kinds of fish apparently have<br />
been as plentiful as formerly, although in several instances not so many taken, lie<br />
has no complaints to report. The usual quantities of fish ascended the rivers.<br />
The sawdust order gave the mill owners a scare, and the most of them went to<br />
work putting their mills in order, to prevent the rubbish, &c, from escaping into<br />
the streams.<br />
Overseer Allan McQuarrie, of Sherbrooke, reports the value of the fisheries of his<br />
4listrict as showing a slight increase over last year, owing to importations by traders<br />
taken from Labrador. Salmon were not up to the average of former years. Fat<br />
summer herring did not visit his district in numbers worth mentioning, but fall her.<br />
ring were more plentiful, though they were continually, on the move, so that the<br />
fishermen, in the face of diligent and faithful efforts, did not strike the fish, and, oon<br />
sequently, are ill prepared to meet the hardships of a cold winter. It is very probable<br />
the Government may be called upon to help tide some over the winter months.<br />
Alewives were scarce and very few were taken. Cod were also less plentiful than<br />
usual, and of smaller size, but yielding a large percentage of oil, in some cases<br />
gallon to the cwt. All the old lobster factories and two new ones, making seven in<br />
all, were in operation. These fish were plenty and of good size, but rough weather<br />
made a short season, still shorter, and it is a surprise that so many were taken. The<br />
weather averaged extremely stormy and boisterous all the fall, and fish kept off shore,<br />
so that small boats have comparatively nothing laid by fr the winter.<br />
The law was fairly well observed, but Mr. McQuarrie insists on having a warden<br />
appointed in the Sherbrooke district, as the head of the tide requires more<br />
watchfulness than other localities. The inspection of the lobster factories was careS<br />
fully kept up during the season, and the result was quite satisfactory. He imposei<br />
some small fines for taking of small lobsters, but on the whole the laws were well<br />
observed in his district. This officer is satisfied that three or four months of close<br />
season, together with our long winters, would be sufficient protection for lobsters<br />
from Cape Canso to Cape Sable. The obstructions of Indian Harbor beach were<br />
attended to by the Department, and a man is employed to keep a passage open for<br />
fish. The sawdust law has been enforced and there has been a general, though not<br />
reluctant, acquiescence. The upper portion of Country Harbor River is in a very<br />
bad state with several jams of rubbish, so that at low water fish have no passage.<br />
4Two hundred dollars is recommended to bs expended to remove these obstructions<br />
which are very injurious to the fish of the river. The fishways are all right arni<br />
working well—more of them are wanted, as the new patent is so universally<br />
approved of. About ten miles of the west River St. Mary's is without a warden<br />
This portion is thickly settled and exposed, not only to the local poachers, but also<br />
to those of Pictou County, who make nightly raids on salmon in the fall, when they<br />
go up to spawn. This evil should be wiped out, and a resident warden would be a<br />
wholesome check. From the want of this the inhabitants feel somewhat sore and<br />
elaim they are entitled to the same protection as is given to other rivers. Wine<br />
Findlay, of Caledonia, is recommended as the proper man for the place, he having<br />
been requested to name him by the citizens. Mr. MoQuarrie thinks purse seining<br />
should be prohibited in preservation of valuable fish.<br />
HALIFAX COUNTY.<br />
Overseer John Fitzgerald, of Portuguese Cove, is sork\to report that the catch of<br />
all kinds of fish for the current year has been below the average. He tears considerable<br />
distress will he experienced among the fishermen during the coming<br />
winter. The failure of the mackerel and herring fisheries was a severe blow to<br />
those living oh the shore between Ferguson's Cove and St. Margaret's Bay, those<br />
fisheries being their mainstay. The lobster law was fairly well carried oat. Tlia
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