New-York tribune., 1901-05-30
DYNAMITE FISHING OFF GRAND MAy4y.
INCREASING DISCUSSION OF THE NECESSITY or
PUTTING \ STOP TO IT.

Bangor, Me. May % (SpeciaD.-The killing of fish
with dynamite cartridges in the around
Grand Manan is going on without hindrance, as
most OF the dynamters keep without the three mile
limit or else clever to he caught within the
forbidden waters. The dynamite method has
suited in a tremendous slaughter of fish. chiefly
pollock great deal of discussion among fisher
men and government officials, and also many seri-
Gus accidents. The pollock boatmen take
supply OF dynamite now where they used TO take
bait and nets. and when the fleet is at work off
Grand Manan the constant explosions and the
throwing of water in great volumes high into the
air give the impression of naval fight tor
pedo fleet at practice. II is said that many as
forty thousand pollock have lately been killed in
one day by the dynamite method. and fisher
men assert that fully as many sink to the bottom
wounded as come TO the surface stunned or killed.
Tho first fatality of the season occurred recently
at Grand Manan, where a young Frenchman named
Pierre Leblanc killed by the explosion of half
n stick of dynamite which he held too long in his
hand after lighting the fuse. His body was thrown
Hiteen feet from the dory in which he stood The
method used is TO attach stick or half stick OF
dynamite by means Of stout line to a billet OF
wood. winding the line about the billet Then the
fuse is ignited and the whole thrown overheard
above where the pollock are The weight or the
cartridge unwinds the line from the wood and al
lows the dynamite to sink about the right depth
among the fish before the explosion comes Ere
luently the careless and ignorant fishermen make
poor throw. the line becomes enta2gled AROUND
rigging. and then there Is udHsti VI an
explosion on board the boat from which the cast l.
made When the find 1t impossible TO clear
the line in time tG get the cartridge ONeIoodI"
before the explosion comes. there are TWO ways 10
CsCapc-Set as far away as possible ana Iall lace
Gown the deck or jump overheard. ana even theH
there is of being struck by HYinS Sp'lnteTS,
The death OF Leblanc has led to a renewal ot inc
discussion as to whether this method OF nSninS
should he allowed TO continue. IL Is said ny cti
fishermen that fully 30 per cent of the FISH Killed
sink to the bottom and lost, besides pollulinS
tho water. MANY fish muttlated but not killed.
and fishermen say that fish killed with dynamite
do not cure 81 well those netted or hooked, on
account of bursting of blood vessels by the eN
plosfous. Further than that. many fish are killed
that arc too small he of any use, and the shock
of the explosions which travels long way IN the
water. frightens away all other hSh especially the
Mornings upon which the sardine factories OF Maine
and New Brunswick depend. The Canadian GOV
Crnment has already made dynamite hshing uniaw-
full within the three-mile limit, beyond which there
is territorial jurisdiction.
II is suggested that. while II might be difiicut. II
would not be impossible 10 prevent dy0amittng out
the thrce-mie limit that the United states ana
Canada acting in could prevent subjects or
citizens Of either country from taking out dynamite
i'm their boats for the purpose of killing hsn. ana
could also prohibit the sale of fish killed in this
manner There is International agreement con
corning killing of seals at certain times ana IN
certain in BehrinS Sea, and IL Is argued that
f. should be easier apply a law to the more
limited and more accessible area where dynamite
fishing is practised around Grand Manan.