DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

53
quality. Halibut was a complete failure, so far as this district is concerned, there
being more barrels taken in former years than pounds in recent years. Mr. MoDon
aid claims that trawl fishing is the cause of the scarcity of halibut. It is the opinion
of fishermen in this district that the shore mackerel fishery will be ruinel if purse
seining is continued in Canadian waters. There is a noticeable decrease in the
catch of salmon, which is not to be attributed to scarcity of fish frequenting the
waters of this district, but to the fact that there were only a few fishermen engaged
in this fishery. The number of salmon seen ascending the Mira River to the spawning
grounds this fall was much greater than in previous years, and fishermen are of
the opinion that these fish will yearly increase in number. The lobster fishery shows
no sign of depletion. Although the season was a poor one for packers, it was not
owing to any scarcity of this shell-fish, but to blustering and stormy weather, which
prevented fishermen from visiting theirtraps, which in many cases were broken and
strewn on the shores. Another drawback to this fishery was found in the presence
of drift ice on the coast until t be last of May, the packers being unable to commence
tperations before the first week in June. The severe gale which prevailed on the
last of June caused packers in this district to lose nearly all their traps, and before
they could get them repaired and replace them, the season was almost ended. One
packer estimates his loss at $,400, and others met with similar misfortune. Some
packers say that another summer gale would cause them to close their factories.
Alewives were more plentiful this year than in previous years, particularly in
Mira River. Sea trout did not go up the rivers as numerously as in former years;
cause unknown. Smelts were plentiful, but taken only for local use.
Overseer James P. Burke, of Main a Dieu, reports a falling off in the catch of codfish,
a large decrease in the catch of mackerel, and an increase in the catch of herring.
The decrease in the catch of codfish occurred principally in the districts of
Mira Bay and Scattarie. The falling off in the catch of this fish, is attributed to the
following causes: First-- Capelin did not visit the shores this season, or indeed
during the past four seasons, and fishermen attribute the scarcity of codfish to this
cause. The absence of capelin caused bait to be scarce, particularly at Mira Bay
and Main Dieu. Squid. which is largely used in codfishing, was also scarce towards
•the close of the season, particularly at Scattarie. Another cause of failure in the
codfishery was the unusmilly blustering weather which prevailed, making the season
one of the most unfavorable known to the fishermen for years. The price of codfish,,
however, was good, and fishermen will not feel the failure of the fishery so severely.
Last year there were 550 barrels of mackerel caught in his district, but this year
only 316 barrels were taken, a decrease of 234 barrels which will be severely felt,by
fishermen, the more so as none of those fish were caught in the fall when prices were
good; therby entailing a loss of about $1,000 compared with last season. There is a
strong feeling amongst local fishermen against purse seining, and they attribute the
yearly falling off in the mackerel fishery to this destructive mode of fishing, used
not only by American fishermen but by Nova Scotians as well. Purse seines
frighten and break up the schools, thus diverting the fish from the shore to outside
waters. Cape Breton fishermen are in favor of legislation which will prohibit purse
seining, and limit the fishing to hook and line as formerly. The herring fisheryshows
a slight improvement over last year. In Mira Bay there were 950 barrels
taken against 50 last year. In Main a Dieu there were 1,000 barrels caught and 1,20J
cases sealed in one-pound cans at the factory, against 1,125 last year. At Scattari
the catch of herring was about the same as last year. Halibut in this district also
shows a slight increase over last year, being 22,350 lbs. against 22,078 lbs. in 1887.
About 30 cases of halibut were packed at the lobster factory. There is a decrease in
the catch of lobsters, owing to stormy weather which proved destructive to traps.
At the Main a Dien lobster factory in July and August over 1,200 cases of herring
were packed. The canning of herring is comparatively a new industry in Cape
Breton, and it is found that these canned goods take well in the markets abroad,
realizing $1.50 per dozen cans or $6 per case. This business promises to become a
profitable one. TrawE fishing is extensively carried on at the south side of Scattarie
Island, and is considered by local fishermen to be injurious to the codflshery.