DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

55
consideration, however, it has been a fairly prosperous season for those who followed
Zahing in this division. The various rivers throughout this district were visited by
a much larger run of salmon and trout than formerly; this was particularly the case
wit h Middle River, where the oldest inhabitant states, that never were there so many
salmon seen in that river during the spawning season. There were 275 salmon and
O large sea trout taken from the Middle River for use in the Sydney Fish Hatchery.
As many more could have been secured had they been required. The various rivers
and streams were well protected and few violations of the law occurred.
Overseer William Bin yham, English town, reports a more successful fishing season
thaai was at first anticipated. Although herring were scarce the cod fishery was good,
sad the increase in the price of mackerel more than compensated for the falling ofF
in the catch. Old fishermen attribute the decrease in the catch of fish to the appearnce
of what is known as "white water," which has a tendency to drive the fish away.
'The surface of the water over the best feeding grounds was covered with a white
frothy substance for the greater part of the summer. During the lust of June and
July storms proved very injurious to the lobster fishery in this district, hundreds of
lobster traps being destroyed. Owing to the presence of drift ice on the coast, which
ialled the harbors and bays until the second week in June, lobster fishing was short,
end, together with stormy weather, accounts for the small catch.
everseer Jfa/col,n McIntosh, of Aspy Bay, reports a falling off in the catch of cod
fish us compared with last year. The fishermen in this division engage extensively
in cod fishing. Of late years the fish are found more plentiful late in the season,
bat the weather is invariably so blustering that fishermen cannot prosecute this calling
with vigor. The salmon-fishery, especially at White Point ant Bay St. Lawence,
was good, considering the number of nets employed. The mackerel.fishery
was up to former years, most of the fish being caught with hand lines. Mackerel
struck plentifully in Aspy Bay early in September, be Nova Scotia seiners soon
drove them away from the coast. Large numbers of herring were taken in seines
and thrown overboard to pollute the waters. Lobster fishing was, practically, a failure,
owing to the lateness at which the season opened and the disastrous storms which.
break up traps and moorings.
COIJNTY OF RICHMOND.
Overseer D. Cameron, of St. Peters, reports a decrease in the catch of nearly all
kinds of fish in his district. This he attributes to the presence of drift ice on the
coast until late in the season and unusually stormy weather at different periods o' the
summer. The lobster fishery suffered severely from storny weather, at the factories
at L'Ardoise only fished thirty-six days and at Fourchu twenty.five days This short
ueason was caused by drift ice and stormy weather, the latter proving very destructive
to traps. Bad it not been for the advance in the price of mackerel and cod,
fishermen would fare badly. This officer recommends the employment of special
ocers at the lobster factories during the season. He finds a disposition on the part
it some fishermen to take lobsters under the legal size of nine inches.
Overseer Francis .Marmeau, of Arichat, reports a very large increase in the catch of
codfish, haddock and herring. The mackerel fishery was a failure in this district.
Fishermen attribute this failure to seiners who visit Chedobucto Bay in the early
part of the season, breaking up the schools and frighten mackerel away. Lobster
fishing was good in this division during the past season. Several packers were fined
1Gr baying lobsters in thcir possessiou under the legal size; no other violation of the
alery laws occurred.