The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-17

tuIe in week two, when hope TO have it in our
power to give fuller report.
TIE FISHERY QUESTION.
Important Report OF the Committee on Fish
the Iith Of May, 1888.
The committee to which referred the state OF the
fisheries carried on in the Gulf Of St. Lawrence and on
the Labrador coast by inhabitants of this province,
the disadvantages under which they labor the best means
Of removing the same and the expedency of legislative
encouragement for such fisheries ia what respect and
how, beg leave to present this their first report
Your committee have given the subject referred to the
and the various petitions there.ith connected all the at
tention to which their Importance is entitled.
To ascertain whether any and what encourage
ment granted in the Lower Province to the sueres
carried on by inhabitants thereof, your committee ut
the outset OF their inquiries caused circulars to be ad
dressed to certain of the authorities in those Provinces
from whom they deemed it probable that information
this head TO be relied upon, might be obtained. The
received have been, with one exception full and
and other very interesting and useful information reat
ing TO the fisheries and trade and which are hereto ap-
pended
It is stated by the answer from St. Johns N F., that
bountes whatever granted either by the British
colonial government in furtherapce of the prosecu
ton of the British Newfoundland and Labrador fsheres
that these fisheries confined to the catch cod SEAL
salmon, herring and capn, on the coast of Newfound
land and Labrador, the Bank fishery being no longer
prosecuted that they extend he Islands, Except
at such places as are held urar eaty by the French
government,) including the islands OF st. Pierre, Mque
entrance OF Hudscns strait to line drawn due north
and SOUTH from Anse and La Blanc to the fifty second pa
rael Of north latitude The supposed number Of vessels,
and boats, and fishermen employed in the fisheries
the Newfoundland coast and Labrador in the year 1851
Number Of vessels and boats Observation-Disclosures. 457o
tonnage Thereon o. oUO
Men engaged therein 670
Those vessels which are engaged at Labrador return at
the close Of the fishing season. bringing back the families
Of the fishermen, who have assisted in the cure Of
fish there.
t. doeL
vessels fitted and calling direct from the island all of
which depart about the first Of March in each year, and
the enterprise. They usually from fifty to two hun
dred tons, and manned with compliments varying
from thirty to sixty persons in each The other fisheries
above referred to are prosecuted in the summer MONTHS
or between May and October.
That the Labrador coast is visited yearly BY fishermen
and trading vessels from the United States Canada Nova
Scotia neigbboring provinces WE'LL but where
custom house il established duties collected or other
regulations exist.
That from and after the 10th of October 1s49 all i'm
peria duties ceased to exist in Newfoundland and tina
goods only subject to the one colonial rate on i'm
portations, per table in the appendix.
That obtain early foreign fish in markets in
Europe, British and Spanish vessels sail from
the ports Of this island (Newfoundand) between July
and September for British ports at Labrador in ballast
and there load accordingly which the expense Of
the transportation and final landing or resh pment in
this untry Of such commodities Goldfish salmon, her.
ring and fish oils.
Mr. Hay ward, Comptroller of Customs and Navigation
Laws at st. Johns to whom your committee ndebt
ed for the above information observes, in conclusion
THAT Newfoundland contains population consisting Of
coo souls who are dependant principally not alto
the prosecution Of agricultural pursuits has not been
found to answer except auxiliary to our fisheries,
humby conceive that vast extended trade may be bene
fcial opened up with Canada in the supply BY her of
all descriptions Of provisians particularly 10 ex
charge for staple articles Of this colony such as Goldfish
cod and seal oils seal skins, herring samoa mackere
and caplin, such commerce were established upon
fair basis Of legislative reciprocity"
Your committee are left to infer from the information
they have received from Halifax and Nova Scotia that
legislative encouragement is afforded the fisheries
carried frtm that province it being, it would seem
the opinion there that the fisheries carried on along
coast of Nova Scotia will of themselves be sufi.
GENTLY remnnerave and amply repay the Industry and
protected in the exclusive engagement of their own fish
ing grounds against intruders from the neighboring
With peet the fisheries carried from New Bruins
wick your committee have ascertined that the Lagsa
ture of the province has recently afforded limited en-
copragement to thsm by exeDptng from duties all art
ces necessary to the deep fisheries with grant OF
$500 in 1851 and similar grant in 1852 to fishery so
ceties condition Of their raising certain amount by
contribution among themselves the said to be dis
bursed in premiums.
No bounties however, are allowed by the Legislature
Of that province towards encouraging the fisheries
Your committee at the time informed by the
authority whence their information on this subject de-
rived that sufficient length of time has not yet elapsed
to ascertain whether the above of granting
ney for premiums has had beneficial effect, in public
sense, or not.
In Prince Edward Island an act was passed in 1851 sfor
the encouragement Of the cod and nekerel fsheries,
by which bounty Of rs 3d. per register ton, old mea
equipped, and embarked in the cod nackerel ash
cries. during either OF the years 1851 1852 1858 the
said bounty pay to the person PERSONS being
nhabitan or Inhabitants Of the said island who shall
and ct out the said vessels from the island pro.
yided that such vessels are respectively equipped aud
fully furnished with all needfu supplies, Stores and ma
teal. No person to bs entitled to such tonnage
bounty any vessel unless it shall have been expressly
tted out for the cod and mackere fisheries and have
been sea- in the actual prosecution Of the fishing voy
age for period OF not less than three and hall calen
months, between the 18th day of June and the lt
DAY Ct October in either Of the said years. upless and
excepting such time may be required to return to land
6h caught taken by the cIe~ thereof and shall not
during such period have carried any freight but shall
have been solely and exclusively employed In the said
fisheries.
Under this provision of the act the sum Of 500 1885,
3D. in 1861 paid in baunties to the of eigh
teen such small vessels, the total Of whose tonnage
amounted TO $40 TONS the highest Of tbeh being SO
tons and lowest IL and the total product Of whose fish
cries for the were 425 quntas of Goldfish, $50
barrels of herring, and s52 barrels Of mackerel.
Besides the above it is also provided by the same act
that for tie further encouragement OF the mackere
fishery of this island there shall be granted and paid out
Of the public moneys in the treasury OF the island over
each Of the said years. 1851 1882 and 1863 0o OF Law
full current moneys of this island which SHALL in each O
the said years. be paid and applied a. bounties to tb'
owners of such vessels or boats shall In such year b
fitted ou, equipped, named and supplied in the island
catch and bring into port into this island the creates
number II barrels Of nacAerel being actually ana ooh
de caught and secured by the crews or other persons OF
Of such vessels boats during the fishing season
In any one OF the above years. and TO be paid in the fol
lowing proportions, that is to sayto the owner OF tn
vessel boat having the largest quantity OF barrels
nackerel the sum Of Ea0to the Of the vessel
boat avng the next largest quantity $50 and to the owne
of the vessel having the largest quantity fO
and the ner Of the next fourth boat havn
the next largest quantity the Of fl0 provided Away
that no bounty shall be given paid to the OF
such vessel boat not having caught nd brought int
port In this island aforesaid ut least hundse
barrels Of such mackcre during the fishing season,
| the year in which such bounty shall be claimed
L he ypru affords subjects
| ing on the fisheries at the island Of st. Pierre, Nj
quean upon the south coast q Newfoundland or In tn
| Gulf of st. Iawrrnce. most liberal encouragement.
allows for every quinta If goldfish taken in waters
that is to say the coast Of NewfouL dand or Gnlf
within the limits prescribed them by treaty ten francs
FIVE francs additional their expectation in French
sells foreign States and for every man or ooy during
the voysce fly francs The United States have med
Hhaxal fox tho encaura0ement Of fh6,