The Republican journal., 1896-12-24
made good hauls, and most of them Sc

lldue SOOu HaulS, anu most OIL Cnom Sc
cured full trips.
The fresh halibut receipts show an in
crease, for the number of vessels. COM
prising about 60 sail, prosecuting this
fishery, made exceptionally large catches.
The amount landed was about 5000, 900
pounds. This increase is caused by big
trips landed from the newly discovered
and prolific grounds to the northeast of
Newfoundland, which extend several
hundred miles beyond Belle Isle, and prob
ably to Hudson bay. The halibut found
in that section of the ocean, while very
numerous, are of an inferior quality to
these taken nearer home and in more
shallow water.
The prices the past season have until
lately ruled low, for the fish are large and
mostly pass for No. grade. The fishing
cannot be prosecuted in late fall and win
ter or the first months of spring, because
the waters of the ground are covered by
ice in the latter season, and because of
the strong Arctic current and cold wealth
er met with during the former. Only
three vessels engaged in the Iceland salt
halibut fishery, which was failure, but
the vessels left that region early, and Wis
iting the newly discovered ground, secur
ed full fares.
With the surplus that could not be sold
fresh and had to be disposed of to the cut
tiers, the market for the smoked article is
we'll supplied. The amount of such land
ed viii exceed / 800, 600 pounds.
1t is now quite certain that the Pacific
halibut will be an important factor in
future in supplying the market, and sew
! eral carloads shipped from Seattle and
| Vancouver have arrived III prime order at
l.
there promise to be far greater than here
tofore
Smoked herring is another staple article
that is always to be found here. A large
| quantity of the smaller grade comes from
PASSPORT and New Brunswick, while the
| larger aud higher priced varietyis smoked
| here by dealers from Newfoundland her
| ring, and always command a high price as
! oloateI fish.
The total amount disposed of to the
trade by local dealers is estimated at 800, -
600 boxes.
Considerable quantities of shad and
swordtish are marketed at this place.
The latter is principally used in Connect
cut. One thousand barrels is the probable
output.
The lobster fishery, once carried on eX-
tensively along the coast of Maine and
Massachusetts, has about become a thing
of the past. Not enough are caught in
these days to supply the demand of a city
of 100, 600 persons. While but a few years
ago canning factories were in operation all
along the eastern coast day they are
| crumbled into dust. The markets of the
country are now supplied from the output
OF provincial canneries, besides hundreds
of thousands of live Holsters that are an
nually landed in their season at American
| ports, and find their way into the great
western centres by rapid transportation.
The aggregate of all fish taken by YES
sells from this port during the year is
abont 10, 600 tons, which includes the
amount landed by Gloucester vessels at
other ports.
The amount of salt imported and used
in the curing of this product was 40, 950,-
600 against 50, 929, 900 for 1895.
Gloucester stands third ON the list of
salt importing ports, with New York first
and Boston second
The board of trade, whose members are
mostly fish dealers and outtitters, has
made every enGaavor to maintain the price
OF fish during the past season, in order
that the fishermen and dealers might be
benefited alike.
The number of lives lost during the
year, including deaths at sea. drownings
in the harbor etc, WAS s., against "a the
previous year, when 30 vessels were lost,
valued at $40, 900, and insured for S157,-
| $50. The average loss per annum during
the past - years has been is vessels and
13l men.