New-York tribune., 1905-01-08
WINTER HERRING FISHERY
Its Importance to Newfoundland
Phases of the York.


study. both automatically and IndustriaIy for the
observer Of Anglo-American relations. assum-
ing an Importance again because of the revival OF
the reciprocity issue The herring is itinerant
fish. found in one for some years and then
suddenly migrating to another. without any known
reason. but never far as the records show. ab-
sent from some part OF the Newfoundland coast
in the winter months Thirty years ago Fortune
and Placenta bays. on the south coast. were the
main resort of the herrinEs. then they moved 20
Island and Bonne hays, on the west coast and
though these are yet the scene OF their largest as
semAlage nowadays the annually increasing num-
bers seen IN White and Green bays on the north
east coast. Indicate that before many years these
inlets will be their chief habitat
The diplomatic aspect Of this matter Is that on
the west coast the American hshsrmen. by the
treaty OF ISIS. have the same rights to catch hsh
the eolonists or the French because that is the
so-called French shore But they have no right
10 land there. or TO buy FISH let this winter the
herring industry is based wholly upon the Ameri-
cans landing and buying the fish; for they
really caught by the cOastfok and sold to the vsl-
tors who bring only six or eight men on a vessel
70 work 1t from Gloucester 10 these waters and
back again. whereas II takes fifty OF sixty men
with nets. catch enough herring load OF
these crafts. Yet the Americans preserve a real
monopoly Of this business. because they obtain
free entry for the cargoes the ground that they
are the product OF the American fisheries. whereas
Newfoundland vessel. loaded at the same time.
IN the same waters and under the same conditions.
would have to pay duty on her cargo. if brought
into American port. OF half a cent a pound
If the herring salted and three-quaTters Of
cent pound If they were frozen.
1t might be contended with some show of reason
that such a course was justhable as regards her
ring conveyed from the West Coast, where they
have treaty right to fish, but when II is noted
that they also obtain this concession for herring
brought from the south and the northeast coasts
where they have such rights il can be seen
that the Treasury ruling is poorly justified. More
over. even the west coast the American vessels
do not bring nets and gear TO catch herring but
depend solely the settlers. and as the Bait act
foroids people here from assisting foreign fisher
men, and could be enforced against them to-mor-
row. though II is relaxed in favor Of the Amerf-
cans. these would then be helpless altogether
Even as it is. they recognize their subservence to
the colonial regula tons for that treat coast
as We'll elsewhere. they are required to take out
| licenses before they purchase herring and
licenses are issued only after the captain signs a
pond that the fish are to be landed in an American
port and used for food purposes that he will nav
at least 81 % d barrel for them; that he will use a
standard measure. barrel OF thirty-four gallons.
| that he will take them without cuIlfug. make an
export entry on leaving TO the quantity board
| and not break bulk on the passage home and that
TO insure the faithful performance Of these condi-
| uons except the last. which must be taken on
trust. he Will board tidewaiter on his shin vhia
| the cargo is being obtained
1hese regulations prevent the carrying Of the fish
4 he oh
| for oait and a skipper who did that two wears
| ago. fined 500 when next he entered these
waters. The minimum Of s. 25 prevented man from
sacrificing netfuls OF fish to get rid OF them; the
standard barrel prevented fraud for previously one
fully third larger used; the auti-cuIIing rule
/ did away partly with the poutnE or the waters bv
| throwing small and injured fish overheard and the
export entry enabled the colony TO learn the volume
/ and value of this enterprise. These regulations
were framed only in 1885 and for forty years pre-
viously the Yankee fishermen had been wont to get
/ the herring at their own price by their meas
ure on their GULL and to pay in goods instead
| Of in gold, which now insisted upon Naturally
they resented the change. and tried disregard the
| new rules but cruiser sent to the Bay Of
| Islands and anchored amid them and they soon
| gave in. But evasOns still not unknown and
this season TWO Gloucester fishermen fined s1OO
| each for using illegal measures.
WOULD INCREASE VALUE
The result was to increase the value OF this her
ring fishery to the people here by fully 50 cent
and also demonstrate the cOlony's power TO con-
/ troll this and other fisheries and TO cripple the
American fishing ieet's operations in these waters
/ and on the Grand Banks 1t is now proposed that
| if the Bond-H Hay treaty should not be ratified by
| the United States Senate. our government should
/ retaiate either by refusing the Americans any
| herring fishery privileges or imposing an export
/ American import duty on these nsh, thereDy en-
rivals on equal terms and by extending it to the
| bait hshes-spring herrings. capiin and squid-
| to ply their vocation the Grand Banks. as they
now depend Tor their success on the bait they OBJ
! tain in these waters
In former days herrings were so plentiful that the
we're allowed TO retain from thousand to two
thousand barrels of the fish till they pershed. and
lowed to sink 10 the bottom TO pollute the waters
for miles around. Smuggling schooneFs when
overheard, which they were running across TO 81.
Pierre and they were marketed in the colony 1or
20 cents a barrel-ive hundred fish. or ten for a
cent-they fetching in New-fOrk 10 cents
apiece This wholesale destruction compelled stTin
gent changes in fishery laws. and the herring in
dustry was in time made one of Newfoundland's is
At present the centre of this herring fishery is
Bay Of Islands the west coast. and there, from
October TO Christmas, the american vessels are
TO be found IL is estimated that more than a
prob9biy two thousand men are engs sed in the
different stages of the industry as about one hun
everv season Some of the Yankee schooners make
two three trips IN season aad THIS winter the
GIonceeter has esta bIshed a record. making the
round n TP @ le days yS EaTy IN the season be
fore keen frost sets in. the nsh are preserved
by being packed in layers in the hold with salt
prinksG 9iey 6styeeh & and sn 20 m treated s are
tbronehout the United States Later on. when win
oyernigSt or scaffolds or wooden platforms when
the eed soon soiidites nan 50 tnst they wall
InesG & md % serve as the supply for the Eastern
warehouses; anu - = shs - -
moreover whether bringing saited or frozen her
one hundred and nifty barrels OF picked herring
the fsh packed in these casks then saturated with
prime ana @ the 4 s@rs.s s'o"ed on their sides o" the
Tis - 6ecEIosd cannot be Injured either By thaws
or waves. and hrds ready market among The
Germans in western cities Some vessels I'll even
J5SnS TnG ther home in the forecastle which
throw. h.ch By the weight astern, while save for
6s{tenea !rorf o curing salt and the sarrcs to m
g. rEe dqCEIO skipper. though, brings