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CHAPTER XXII.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES COMMISSION.

BY REV. M. HARVEY, LL.D., Secretary to the Commission.

In 1887 a Commission was appointed by His Excellency the Governor in Council, to investigate the operations of Fisheries Depart- ments in other countries, with the view to the establishment of a similar department in Newfoundland should it be found desirable and practicable. This appointment was made in accordance with a resolution passed by the House of Assembly.

The Commission, of which the Hon. A.W. Harvey was chairman, presented their first report in March 1888. In it the various steps taken in carrying out the objects in view were stated in detail. By means of a circular addressed to the Departments of Fisheries in the Dominion of Canada, the United States of America, England, and Norway, much valuable information regarding the organisation and working of their respective departments was obtained, as well as the results of their operations in the artificial propagation of food fishes, and their methods of constructing hatcheries. The report, after giving a summary of the information thus collected, went on to contrast the intelligent guardianship over their fisheries exercised in the United States, Canada, Norway, and England with the almost complete neglect of the fisheries in Newfoundland, where there was no department charged with the duty of investigating, reporting on them, or furnishing any useful help or guidance to the fishermen; while there were no proper regulations to protect these industries, on which the mass of the people were dependent for their subsistence, from the effects of ignorance and reckless greed. As a consequence, the Newfoundland cod fisheries were declining to an alarming extent, especially those around the shores, and the rivers were largely depleted of salmon. The methods of curing and drying the fish had deteriorated, and no attempt had been made to replenish exhausted waters by artificial propagation as practised in

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