, 1872-11-09
THE FISHING SEASON OF 1872

Q4.i Il
The dshlnS season Of 1872, now nearly c1osed
has proved moderately successful, and has been
prosecuted at far leas sacrifice OF lifa and nrnn-
erty than attended the business last wear. when
there were twenty vessels and one hundred and
forty lives lost against ten vessels and sixty-tyo
lives thus far this year. The haviest losses have
been in the bank fishery, five vessels and forty
eight lives having been lost, while the Losses On
Georges have been much less than for several
years past only one vessel aud eleven lives
having been sacrificed. Four vessels and
two lives have been lost in the shore fishery.
The mackerel catch has been very light, probabIy
25 000 barrels less than last year; but tie bank
era have been very successful. and the quantity
Of tish landed has been greatly in excess OF any
former year. AS a whole, the present season
low ne give a brief summary Of the different
branches or the fisheries the present season:
The shore winter fishery was very extensively
prosecuted, and most Of the fest made q very
fair seasons work, considering the very IN
favorable weather most Of the time. Prices
ruled high through March and April, which very
materially helped out the BUSINESS One vessel
WAS lost,-the Herman E. Pool, which Bas driven
out Of the harbor during the gale OF Feb. 8.
Two OF the crew Of the schooner Oceanus we're
lost while visiting their travis, which we're the
only disasters attending the business.
The Grand Menan and Newfoundland herring
fishery proved moderately remuneratiye. Twen-
ty-hve Vessels were engaged in the former and
eighteen in the latter branch. The business
WAS prosecuted without disater to the feet. save
the loss OF one of the crew Of the schooner Cen
eral Grant, On her homeward passage from New
foundland
The Georges fishery has been prosecuted By
less number Of vessels than last eeaaon. About
one hundred we're IN the business during the
winter and spring months, and some fifty have
continued in it through the entire season. The
catch, although not so large as that Of last year
has been very fair one, and prices have aver
aged much better. Taking into consideration
the small number Of disasters attending the
business, the season has been an unusually sue
cessfu1 one. Only one schooner (the Matchless)
and eleven lives have been lost.
The bank fishery has been very extensively
prosecuted this, season, and has proved the
most extensively remunerative. Goldfish we're
never more plenty, and the large feet which
have made salt tripa have procured immense
fares, some Of them making three trips, and the
voyages hare been uniformly good The fresh
halibut fleet have brought in very fair trips. The
catch has not been quite as large az that OF last
aeet will average very fair years work. Some
u the vessels have made unusually good stocks.
The buslnesa, however, has not been without its
drawbacks, FIVE vessels and forty-eight lives
having, been lost during the season. The YES
.els lost were the Messenger, Franklin Snow,
White Eagle, Southern Cross, andi. Josephine
The crews OF the two last boats were saved.
Twelve men we're lost from their dories.
The shore mackerel fshery WAS prosecuted by
bout $50 veasels, large portion 0f them sei1l-
ven, about half the fleet doing moderately well,
nd the remainder very poorly. The catch dur |
1g the last two months has been remarkably |
ght, and the business winds up slim. The |
carcity has caused d good demand, and fares !
ave been sold as fast a. they arrived at remu-
erative prices
The Bay fleet has been very small this season,
My about sixty vessels being engaged in the