New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-25
NEWFOUNDLAND'S WEALTH.
CRADLE OF THE COD AND THE LOBSTER
A VISIT TO GREAT HArCHERY-FIsH CULTURE
BY THE HUNDRED MIIL1oN-RECKLEsS
DESTRUCTION FORMERLY.


ST. Johns, n. F., Aug. ID.
Newfoundland has lately taken new departure
in the artificial propagation OF marine hsne9'
Last year the Fisheries Commission erec'eo U"
the shore of Trinity Bay the largest haccheiy III
the world for the propagation OF codnsh anu lo'
sters. 1t is fitted up with all the latest improve
ments in the art of fsh-culture. lts capacl'S 10
such that in q single season, from May un NJ
vember. it is capable of Matching three hunureu
millions of cod and from one to TWO hunuIco
millions of Holsters. AT the head oil 'hc eo''
ushment is Adoph Nielsen, q Norwegian, one OF
the ablost and most experienced of marine fsh-
cnlturists He has been engaged as supern-
tendent of fisheries at salary of $4,000 year
for a term of five years The Legislature Voo's
from Sl2, 900 to 5000 year for the support
of the Fisheries Department The Commercial
Society pays one-thrd of Mr.. Nelson's salary
Strange to say, in Newfoundland, one OF the
Greatest fishing countries in the world, whose peo
ple are almost entirely dependent on the sea-
harvest there was till two years ago heltner
department of fisheries nor any Official charge"
With tho supervision of the fisheries. Numerous
laws were enacted from time to time py the Lcsl
Iature bearing on the fisheries but these not being
bosed ON any accurate knowledge OF the condi-
lions and requirements, were constantly under-
going amendment or repeal, and there were no
officials to enforce them that, for tne hosV
mart they were mere dead letters The coisc-
ouence was that the fisheries were prosecuoeu l"
a recklessly destructive way, every man aoi"e
what was right in his own eyes. vi late Sc"IS
tb. resn,ts became apparent in the steady decline
Of nearly every branch Of the nsheres' Aho
rivers were found TO he depleted oil salmon many
Of the great bays, where cod were once apunoah"
as well as fishing grounds around Une corSU
showed signs of almost complete eXhausuou' ine
herring fishery showed marked falling OH.
Many Of the fishermen had to resort to distant
localities 10 obtain the cod once so aDundaho Ill
.,nht of their own doors. The lobster fishery
I,t,,s moro than dozen years old. discovered
s;ons of early exhaustion. The population was
Increasing at the rate of % per cent each decaue'
while their means Of support were shrinking. Inc
Nsberies had been neglected, and ignorance ana
cupidity had wasted and destroyed 'ne pi'0''"'
things of the deep" r,...r;os
rnder these alarming conditions O flshericS
Commission was appointed In 1855 AN az
tho LEGISLATURE authorized them to underVakc Vie
.u,.,vision and regulation of the fisheries lher
first step was to secure the services OF tnoio"e
" qualified expert as Superintendent OF iSle!iV'
This was no easy matter; but al lensth one ris"'
man was found in the person OF Auoipn Noi'0A,
who had been for many years an llspeo" "
fisheries in Norway. He was possesSeu VI oo-'
tier as we'll as practica knowledge OF hsheres LII
all their branches.
, RECKLESS DESTRUCTION OF AO0->'
After some time spent In careiui ih'es'ie"
+ion of the Newfoundland fisheries, ne poi'i'e"
ont in a report TO the Commission, lha' tHe ni'in
oauso ~ the alarming decline in the cod fishery
was the enormous destruction OF immature non ~
tho reckless methods that had been followed ior
tho destruction of immature fish by proper Jaws
.,r,ncentlv enforced, and use the aid OF artlhoia
,,roneo cation TO restock the exhausted wa'efs'
The same suggestion applied TO the lobster ns'erS'
which required regulations especially aa'p"u ~
,,s conditions In the salmon rivers "i o"S"
4ions To the ascent Of spawning hsh must oe
moved. and proper guardians appointed w. i.
r+i0cia1 propaoation was at WORK 10 alu III '''eA
restoration pr,o.
Ar Nelson's suggestions were acted on. huies
and regulations were drawn up ana receive" '
sanction of the Legislature. Valuaoe p"i"p
1et nv him on The Cure Of Codish ana ie'iins oo
was circulated. A hatchery was eFec.eu III 80. 20,
ON the southern shore of Trinity Bay, for the af'i-
en;sI nronocation Of cod and Holsters upon large
cole From all these judicious arrangements IL IS
..osorob1e to expect great improvements In 'he
e.heries in due time The effects of abuses con-
,;nuod through several generations, will not, now
ever disappear in day.
Last week paid visit TO the now famous oo"
and lobster hatchery on Dido island lini'S Day :
As far as I am aware there are only three o'her
establishments for Matching cod ova IN eNls'ehoc-
two in the United States at Woods Hoii ana len
Pound Island and one at Flodevlg, IN uhe SUZUKI
.,n nort of Norway The Dido hatchery is on a
larger scale than either OF these, ana combines 'i
r,ona cation of both Goldfish and lobstefs III Is
reached from st. johns Dy raH"aS' on' ~
being sixty miles.
On o. bright summer day the trip is delightful
Tn an hour after leaving the capital Iopsall Is
reached and there a sight breaks on the traVeier
which once seen is not easily forgotten. 'oh'cP'
+ion Raw with its waters flashing IN the SUNSHINE
Ike a sheet of molten silver its massive headlahdS'
its green islands, its great arms stretching away
inland. its encompassing hills, at once nnfS'S
upon the sight, and presents picture rarely sur
passed in ma estc beauty. On tins glorious hicfi-
;nc reo, masses Of ficecy clouds sailing slowly
across the azure dome" even In their very mo
+ion there is rest"-ther outline mlrrored in the
waters of the bay The breezes are intoxicating
an their purity The whole Of the great bay, SIXTY
miles long and forty miles wide at It's mouhl' can
be taken in at q glance. Nearly Tour centuries
sro-in the year l50O-when the " forest prlmeFal
waved over the sites of New-York and Boston
Gasnard Cortereal, the great Portuguese navigator
discovered and named this bay. various piacc'
ON its shores still bear the names he gave them
Portugal Cove Cape La Francis, Baccalieu Island
Carboniero NOW Carbonear) all bear witness to the
presence in these waters Of the daring explorer
who discovered and named Labrador, presently
find a grave in the waters OF the Atlantic
THE BAY OF NAPLES WITHOUT vEsUv1Us.
Enthusiastic Observation-Disclosures are in the habi
of declaring that their beautiful Conception la!
lacks but Vesuvius to bear comparison VIII
the famous bay of Naples. But would defy ever
Italian skies TO surpass the deep pure azure "f tn
vast dome that bends over this noble sheet o
water to-day. And then the air-not laden witt
the odor Of flowers certainly, but with the salln
breath of ocean-how pure and invi9orating
This /; tr5 ofmosphere for the thin blooded smoke