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Is I 3 n I Gathering from the Packing Parts of the Province November 4, 1896 t -I I n i INFORMATION GLEANED DURING THE DISCUSSION THE MINISTER SPEAKS ON THE SUBJSOT I I i I i CHARLOTTETOWN ^ PRINTED AT THE PATRIOT OFFICE, QIIEKN SgUARE 1896 i i WJW::^' ■ '^m::>m'^\:\ „ \ ■ \ ^*«s;$?«v-%^,--%- -v- v: %«>':■%■* %' v .v-i»9 % ^/*i « ?.~ - --l^-in^ THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY Hod. L. H. Dam, Milliliter of Harise anil Mm Consslti! witb tlie Loliiiter Meii of P. £. Islanil Splendid Gathering from the Packing Parts of the Province INFORMATION GLEANED DURING THE DISCUSSION THE MINISTER SPEAKS ON THE SUBJECT r '4 * In response to the courteous invita- tion of the Hon L. H. Davies, Minister oi Marine and Fisheries, the lobster pac- kers of this island assembied in the comfortable hall of the Young Liberals, in the Market building, on Nov. 4, 1896, to diflouBs matters pertaining to this most important industry. As the Minis ter well said the intelligence and the wealth of the Lobster business of the Island was splendidly represented, as every man of prominence in the busi- ness appeared to be present. The hall was hlled to its capacity, and the very man 7 gentlemen who addressed the meeting, were listened to most atten- tively, the Minister evincing his keen interest, by the leading questions he put to the speakers. From the discus- sion it was evident that the packers on the north side are satisfifd with the present close season, while these on the south desire a change. dohn A. Matheson, Esq., Campbeltoo, was called to the chair, the duties of which he performed in a most satisfac- tory manner. Among those present we noticed Hon JohnYeo, Port Hill; Hon S F Ferry, Tignish^Hon D Furquharson, Hon Daniel Davies, Senator Arsenault, Wellington; Senator McDonald, Edward Hackett, M P., John McLean, (i B McEachern, Souris; Messrs. Peter MoNutt, Mai- peque; Thos Kickham, Souris; James Clow, Murray Harbor North: R N Cox, Morell; Jas Myriok, Tignish; W P Tid- marsh,G D Longworth.Walter Matheson, Cbas Lyons, Horace Hasaard, F B Mo- Kae, Wm Harrs, S £ Gallant, M. P P. THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY LB ProwM, M. P. P., H W Longworth, Joseph WiM, M f P-, and soorei of other well known and prominent men engaged in the lobiter packing fausineM. Minister Daviei, with his Private Secretary Mr. Williams, sat on the plat- form and almost promptly on time the meeting was opened. THB L0B8TBR8 PAOKBRS 8PBAK. Hon. Daniel Davies compliment- ed the Minister on calling tbii> conven- tion to ascertain the views ot the Island paoUeis. There was much reason, he thought, for Qomplaint. The mackerel fishing is dwindling away and the lobster industry is most important and well deserving of important consideration. He specified existing grievances as follows:— (1) Not sllowed to pack lobsters under 9 inches. (2) Regulations respecting close sea- son and the putting ot labels on the boxes. The latter did not prevent packing out of season. (3) The manner in which packers are taxed. He was also opposed to all extensions of the close season and different parts of the Island he believed required different close seasons. The season now lasts m the 15th July. On the south side the ice prevents as early a beginning as on the west and after the 15th June, the fishing is not of much use as the lobsters then retire to deep water. He thought the season should terminate then. That, however, would be too short; but after a dose season of one month, the fishermen on the south side should be given an additional month or six weeks, say from 15th Sept. to 15th Oct, as between the first and second of the close seasons, he remarked, the lobsters were not fit to catch. Adopting this plan, spring and fall fishing would be of great benefit to the packers and at the same time oonaenre the lobster interests. The Minister wa« df a tolerably strong opinion that the fishermen were oppos- ed to having two seasons. However, he was willing to abide by the decision of the lobster men here and in the adjoin- ing provinces. He suggested, so as to expedite and make clear the matters discussed,that the three counties,King's, Queen's and Prince, be heard in order and this suggestion was wisely acted upon. Mr. James Clow, of Murray Harbor North, thought the time in regard to the close season could not be improved upon. He was opposed to a second season. Such would be a further exten- sion, and besides what would become of the fishing gear. On the coast in his section from Cape Bear to Panmure Is- land, he was in favor of from the first of the spring season to the 1st July. Two months were long enough for fishing; any longer would not protect the lobster. He believed in a universal close season for the whole Island ending on July Ist. Mr. Ai J. McDonald, M. P. P , Oeorge- town, always advocated a short close season and considered the present might be shortened with advantage. Since the present season was fixed by law more factories had sprung up and the industry could not stand such ex- tensive fishing. Certainly the season DOW is too short, but a further decrease in time would lessen the number of factories and this would be a benefit. He was also opposed to September fish- ing and thought up to the 1st July sufficient. The lobster industry is well worth weighty consideration and is safe in Mr. Davies' hands. Mr. Clow said speaking from experi- ence he found lobsters caught in Sept. were no better than those taken after THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY •xperi- in Sept. en after tbe olSTRY ^^ r J ihould iu his judgiuen^ be saflBoient to warrant bis luaki- g a cbnnge in the law, I beg to assure hiui that he sb*!! have uiy hearty oo operation and support in carrying it into eilfot and in giviog it a fair trial. Whatever law coiues into force should be uiftde permanent, as these repeated changes very much un- settle the business. Mr. Tidmarsh further stated that he did not believe lobsters were tit (or human tood between July 10th and the 20th August. Mr. F. B. McRae, a lobster packer of Queen's County, could understand why the fishermen on the east de- sired only one season; but on the south siie the proper and best time tat lobster fishing was from the 20th ot August to 2()th October. He was not in favor of two seasons. Hon. D. Farquharson thought such an important meeting could not but re- sult in great benefit. He commended Mr. Tidmitish's valuable papei. It is not to consult protit to those eugaged so much as the protection of t he lobster that this meeting is concerned. He was in (avor ot the fall season if the quality of the fish wad equally good as in itpring, and thought it tl^e spring season to July were continued, the lobutei grounds would become depleted. Hon. Daniel Davitts said there was no demand in the English markets in the fall for lobsters. The best fish are caught in the spring, and it is in summer they are demanded. MrG D Longworth considered May and June the proper months to pack. The lobsters ot August are soft shelled. In September, however, they are all right, but not equal to those caught in spring. Around Egmont Bay section but meagre catches are ot>tained in May and June,and the business (here cannot be oontinuea under present conditions. The market v(oulil not have fish packed in August or iiist part of September. He had lost money on such. A eale CHnnol be mad^ in England even Ht this lime in the year ; th^ proper time is the Hpiing. He thought the present close season all right and he was opposed to shortening it, believing the majority ot fishermen were in favor ot spring fishing. Mr Chas Lyons said that on the south side it was almost impossible, owing to the winds from 'he east and the winds frnoi the mett, and the ice, to do any- thing until the 20th May. Consequently littlM in done before the lOth June. Spring tishing on tbe south side does not pay. All the iisheruien from Point Prim to Cape Egmont will Hay thi*', and that they must have fall fishing. The same should extend to Cspe Bear. It is in the interest ot large buyers to keep the season as it now exists. It is said the lobsters during August are un- fit to be causht, but nevertheless they have b.«en caught, t>ought and shipped abroad. From Cape Bear and Wevt Point on the south side the seaeon shoulii open the 20th of August. Mr. Horace Hasz'ird said he had en- deavored to obtain the views of the diflerent packers around the Island. He believed tbe season should remain as At prest'nt along the north side, Irom north side West Point, by North Point along to Bast Point, thence to Cape Bear. On the south side a change may he deairable from Ca^e Bear to West Point. Those who fished in the fall would be obliuud to place their (lack on the mi^rket when it was already sup- plied. But if they desired to do this, be would not oppose giving them the opportunity. He had had experience in fall fishing before the new regula- tions went into force, and remembered fitting out a man in Chariot tetown, who fished lobsters right into Decemt)er, and placed in our market fresh lobsters of excellent quality—better in fact than at any other time. He was opposed to two ueasons and stated that extensions of the season had a depreciating effect on the English and French markets. Mr. Jas. Taylor of St. Peter's Island, was opposed to spring fishing. He thought the season should close on 1st July. The lobsters commenced to spawn about 20tb Aug. The fall was the time to pack. Mr. Theo. A. Stewart, of West River, believed millions of spawn were de- THE liOBHTER INDUSTRY pposed to majority ot spring the aoutb owiDg to rbe winds 3 do any- lequently ih June, iide Uoei •cm Point Hay thiM, I fishing, pe Bear. >uyer8 to }ts. It is it are un- lern tbey stiipped ad Weot e tteaeon t. bad en- va of the land. He lain as At le, Irom its. sland, He }n 1st to 11 was liver. Ntroyed by opring fisbing, and if (all Hshing only prevented this destruction a greit gortd would have been aooom- plisbed. He advocated a season from 2Utb Aug. to 20th Dot., troui Pt Prim Tiy tbe de- as fur west as one onn go. experimont for one year. Mr. Frank Sobaefer, of Oape Traversa, favored spring Hshing, and Mr. W. A. Leard. of Sea Cow Head, contended that the spawriins vari*>d according to the depth of watof sround tbe coasts. BeKin- nintc tidhing on the '^)th Aug. would suit bis peciion. Capt. Piggott, of tbe North Side, was satisfied tbat lobsters spawn all the year round. He was satisfied with the present close season. He believed a double season — one for the north side and one lor tbe south would soon ruin the lobster industry. For instance in tbe spring all the packer* would fish in tbe north, while in tbe fall all would go to tbe south, and tbe fishing grounds would be depleted. Speaking of label- ling, he thought the laheli* should be in tb.> bands o( some Government ofiSciol who should stamp them and allow nu lobsters to he shipped without being sn stamped. He was also opposed to any extension of time and never yet fixhed up to time limit. Tbe average time of getting out traps in bis section was from 1 5tb to 20th May. Mr Sbeppard Allen, of Augustine Cove and South Shore, considered fall fishing tbe best by odds for tbat section. Ist Aug. to 20tb Oct. was tbe best season. Mr. J. H. Myrick, Tignisb, was strongly opposed to packing in the hot season. He believed tbat such was in part accountable for the discoloration of the lobster. From reading works of eminent authorities on this crustacen ho found that tbe lobster cannot breed more than once every two years, anM did not believe that lobsters in spiwn were more plentiful in one season than another. He was in favor of the fishing season oomuiAnoing about tbe 1st of May and continuing for two months. He was only speaking, however, for his own section. Hon. Peter McNutt, Maipeque, endorsed the views expressed by Mr. " 16 2 «( (t »< " 23 3 (i ((. •( June 2 5 « « tt •'8 6 it (. « " 15 12i (( - cent, when the soft lobsters came in. For the protection of the lobster be considered the open season should be from 20tn Aug. to 20th Oct. I o'clock having arrived, tbe meeting adjourned for one hour. AFTERNOON SESSION. Promptly at 2 o'clock the meeting was continued, the hall being again crowded and the proceedings char- acterized by the same unabated interest so evident in the morning session. Mr. John Agneau. of Alberton, was tbe first speaker, and be considered July Ist the proper time for closing fish- ing, and tbe Ist of May the proper time to run the lines. He considered a more rigid enforcement of the law respecting illegal fishing necessary. Mr H. W. Longworth, Charlotte- town, considered it was about impos- sible to make a living out of the business* if the law were strictly adhered to. He submitted some figures taken from bis factory atE^mont Bav, where fishing was commenced about May 2l0ih. 8 THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY Thore wernB or be outlawed. While their neiahbors on the north and east were scooping in lob8ters,the fishermen on the south w«>r(> getting none, and just when fish did come, the close season went in- to operation. It wan. a great temptation to illegal fishing. He said that one fac- tory iu the regulation season packed 180 cases and in the extension time 400. This was proof that it was late in the season when lobsters could be got there in any quantity. At a meet- ing recently held in S'Side, a new re- gulation was asked for, namely, 15th July or Ist August. Mr. Vincent Harrington, of Egmont B^y, agreed with Mr. Destloches and Mr. Lonitworth, that the present close season is not the most favorable for that section. He thought that between Jun** Ist and July I5tb most of the spawn had been d<>poRited. He substHntiated his) remarks with figures, showing 76 lob- sters taken early in June; up to July 20th, 423; 2l8t, 713; 23rd, 717; 25th only two davs later, 1525, and 27th, 1919 and 31st, 1700. This he held proved they labored under great dii-advantage in that section. He favored a shorter season when the fish were there to catch— from August lUth to October 10th would be a better open season th^n the present one. Mr. R A Clarke, Alberton, opposed the extending o( the close season be- yond July Ist. FHVorrd couiuiencing fishing on May Ist. Mr. C. Woodman, of the same place, thought a day should be fixed by law on which the lines are to be set out^ and no lobster line should be allowed to be run out before a date so fixed. He also considered some improvement Id the license regulation necessary. Mr. Mich. Roy, Sea Cow Fond, thought the existing close season suited his seocion, though it might be short- ened some 15 days. He fished up tn August 1st, last year and found that th« fish caught (hat late were not fit to pack. He agreed with previous speak- ers that a date should be fixed by law for th<' setting out of lines — May 1st, if agreeable. Did not believe lobsters were fit to pack from July 15th to Aug. 1st, in any part of the Island. Mr Thomas ITowatt, of Cape Traverse, said, thnt although tl>e spring ti', said he WAS a delegate appointed to be prt— sent. At a meeting held there bst night it was unanimously decided that May THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY 9 ICO, aid rf— (ht ay lUth was the boHt date for opening (he season on the north side. K« stronifly urged that a date not earlier than May IdL, be tixfd for setting out the lines. In regard to the lobster spawning he was convinced that they spawn in t very month ot the year though probably more in tone than in otherH. By catch- inK lohstert. in the fall the spawn is des- troyed in the shape ot the roe, so noth- ing would be gained in this di'ection by changing tne close season. May and June, he believed, were the proper months to tish lobsters. Mr. A. F. Larkin would allow the (ishermen to commence as early as \:)hey saw tit, and would shorten ibe close season to July Ist. Prohibiting iishing to Ist May meant loss to fishermen about Miminigash and Campbelton. Hon. D. Davies agreed with Mr. Mo- Eachern relative to the spawning of tbb lobster. £Ie further stated the market in England was tor the May and June p«ck. Senator Arsenault, Egmont Bay, said it was only by the extension of the close season that the fishermen there profited, de heard no complaints ot lobsters packed in July or August, but did of those packed in May and June. Would be satisfied for season t j begin August 1st. He was in favor of later fishing than the present season. Mr. J. A. Matheson, Campbelton, (Chairman) was in favor of the two months fishing, beginning at the open- ing of navigation. He objected to having a set date for placing the lines. Mr. A. J. McDonald, M. P. P., George- town, did not agree with Mr. Macheson respecting the setting of the lines. Messrs. Q. D. Longwortb, D. C. Morsonand D. Farqufiarson considered it would be unfair to limit the time of setting out linei on the Island unless the saoie were done in regard to N. S. and N. B. THE MINISTER SPEAKS. As all matters pertaining to the lob- ster industry had by this time been most thoroughly discussed, the Hon. Mr. Davies addressed the meeting in an earnest business like manner. After expressing bis sincere thanks to the gentlemen present for so heartily and numerously responding to his invitation, the Minister said be tVIt convinced that be was speaking to the iuW'lligeuce and wealth engaged in the loboter fishing hUd packing of this Province, an in- dustry the importance of which may be understood trom the fact that the export of the product is over half a million of dollars annually. In listening to the remarks of the various speakers, the Minister naid he had acquired a great deal of information, which in considering and dealing with this most important matter would be in- valuable to him. He stated that some years ago he had occasion to study the lobster fishery and in the course of his research had read the report of Mr. Frank Buckland, relative to the lobster industry along the coasts of Ireiand, Scotland and England, and that eminent authority concluded that so far as those waters faced the Atlantic ocean no regulations or close season were requir- ed, but this would not hold good with respect to the estuaries and bays which it was possible to fish out. The conclu- sion arrived at by Mr. Buckland, Mr. Davies believed, would also apply to Cciuada, that is, the season will regulate itself on the north side, but when you come to Mai- Eeque Bay and the Straits of Northum- erland, the spawning grounds of the lobster, they must be protected. From North Cape round the North Side to Cape Bear and (jrund River should remain as at present, and from Cape Bear to West Cape and to correspond- ing points in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick the regulations heretofore enforced were destructive to the in- dustry. He was profoundly impressed with the views of the meeting and promised that he would give them bis most earn- est consideration and consult with Mr. Prince, Commiosiooer of the Fisheries department, Ottawa, respecting the fall season for fishing. Those fishing on the south side, raid the Minister, have signified their wilhngness to commence fishing between tne 1st and 15th Aug., and risk the decline in the English markets for the fall pack, so if the nr^ '3f x-^TI— ' T^^r -Ta"; r u(i M ^-1 iiw» .gill "1 s.„Jii?»J_* ■*iyWi* I n il i [| iiwi| [i 10 THE DJRSTER INDUSTRY department tries the ezperinient it will do so purely as a mat- ter of bi4sine8B and cannot be held re sponsible should the result prove unsatisfactory. He pointed out that the probabilities were that Farlia ment would not meet until February and stated that as early in the session as possible he would bring forward a bill legislating on this matter. With respect to the hxmg of a date by law on which to set out tiie lines, the Minister thought the preponderence of argument was in tavor of such a date, [t was not a question between the fisher- men here and those of N. S. and N. B., but entirely between individual Sshermen on the Island. One packer may have valuable gear and he should nut be obliged to risk its loss owing to the recklessness of another packer in the section. Thd Minister had little respect for minor regulations though no doubt good in themselves, but the safety of the lobster industry lies in the fixing of the close season, and the proper en- forcement of the same. He hoped to fix a date which would meek with the approval of the (;reat majority of the fishermen. He would find mean? to en- force the law. because then he would be backed up bv the moral opinion of the fishermen, and no expense would be spared to ascertain if the rigid en- forcement of the close season, apart from all other regulation?, will not stop illegal fishing. The Miniater concluded by again thanking those present for^their attend- anct? and the information imparted which he felt would prove of benefit to the department, its officers and the fish- ermen. Th« voice oi this meeting, ho said, would be preserved as a record of the occasion. Befoie resuming his seat, Mr. Davies stated that he would hoKl similar meet- ings in N. S. and N. B. in order to fully investigate this subject before laying his views before Parliament. A vote of thanks proposed by Mr. John McLean, ex-M. P., Souris, seconded by Mr C. Woodman, supported by Mr. G. B. McEachern, and enthu- siastically and unanimously carried, closed the meeting at 3.30 o'clock, in time to catch the outgoing trains. |! \ ity of the leane to en- he would opinion of nee would • rigid en- '8on, apart ill not stop by again pir attend- imparted benefit to d the lish- feting, he record of r. Davies lar meet- r to fully laying his cl by Mr. Souris, upported d enthu- carried, clock, in IS. v.-