DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

46
CAFE BRETON.
REPORT OF MR. A. C. BERTRA.M, FISHERY OFFICER, ON TEE FISHERIES
OF CAPE BRETON
Noani SYDNEY, CAPE BRETON, 31st December, 1888.
ilon. CHARLES H. TUPPER,
Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa.
SIR,—I have the honor to submit the following report, for the calendar year
ending with this date, of the fisheries of the sea coast and in'and waters of the fourcounties—Cape
Breton, Inverness, Victoria and Richmond—..this being the fifth
annual report for the Island of Cape Breton, since its establishment as a separate
fishery district.
The following are the aggregate values of the fishery products of this island
for each year since that period :—
Year.
Product value.
1884 $1,421,787
1885 . . 1,501,498
1886 . 1,561,655
1887. 1,554,288
1888 1,481,988
It is a matter for regret that the aggregate value of the fisheries of the island
shows this year a decrease compared with each of the two previous years; one
county alone, out of four, giving an increase over the values for 1887. This is shown
by the following abstract, by counties :—
County. Product. Increase. Decreaae.
1888.
Cape Breton .. ........ . . $271,539
Inverness •.. ...... 342,695
Victoria .. .. 223,653
Richmond 1 . 644,101
1887.
$280,238
485,938
239,842
548,270
...
$95,831
$ 8,699
143,243
16,189
$95,831
$168,131
Total values for Cape Breton Island $1,481,988
$1,554,288
......
$72,300
The above shows for 1888, compared with 1887, a total decrease in the fishery
production of Cape Breton Island, equal to $72,300. A glance over the first
table shows that of 1888 to be the smallest value of product since 1884, and
that it, the former, is $27,819 less than the average of the tour preceding years.