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^:^j*«W*af«;S^6*ei*«i*r.««»«BW»*'^«^ "

IcillPORT

ON

BEEP-SEA DREDGING OPERATIONS

IN TBI

GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE,

WITH

NOTES ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE I^IARINE FISHERIES AND
OYSTER BEDS OF PART OP THAT REGION.

BY J. F, WHITEAVES.

h::-

RK PO RT

oir rURTHXR

DEEP-SEA DREDGING OPERATIONS

IN THB

GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE,

WITH NOTES ON THK PRESENT CONDITION OF THE MARINE FISHBRIE»
AND OYSTER BIDS OF PART OF THAT REGION.

IINTRODUCTORY.

The instnictions received from the Depai'tment prior to my leaving Montreal
were, to use my own judgment as to the seleetion of points for examination during
the e<>rly part of the summer, and later on to devote a portion of the time to an investi-
gation into the present condition of the oyster beds of Northumberland Sti'aits and of
the coast of New Brunswick.

This being the case, the plan of operations which was ultimately carried out, was to
devote a v/eek or two to dijedging in the greatest deptlis between Anticosti and Gasp^,
then to m;ilc»» a complete circuit of Prince Kilward Island, examining fii-st the enti'anceto
the Bay des Cbaleuvs, the Orj)han and Bradeilo Banks, the ai-ea between Cape Breton and
Prince Edward Island, and, lastly, the whole of Northumberland Straits on both sides,
back to the Bay des Chaleui-s.

The Government schooner J. H, Kickerson, Avhich i'l i- nine weeks was exclusively
employed in these investigations, is a vessel of some 70 tons burthen. She carried only
three sails, and had no flying-jib, staysail, or gafF-topsail. The want of these was often felt
in fine weatlier, when the breeze was very light. Her crew consisted of the captain, six
seamen, a carpenter, steward (who also acted as cook), and stewaul's boy. We were
authorized to liire two or three additional hands if required, but did not succeed in getting
•ren one man to streji<T;i1ien our small crew.

Our ai)paKitus consisted of two dredges, fitted with^irmer bags of closely netted heavy
seine twine, and outer ones of nntanned hide ; sifters, two deep-sea leads, and between
500 and 600 fathoms of VI inch inanilla rope. We also constructed rough but tolerably
effective lowing nets and '• tangles," both of which did good service. A small winch
would havf saved mncl) lio.wy mnuual labor, and it would have been better if we had
been provided with rope enough to use a dredge and tangles on separate lines at the
same time, especially in very deep water. Although the weather was exceptionally
stormy, and many other grave disadvantages had to be contended with, the bumber ol
specimens collected was much lai-gor than on any previous occasion. This is mainly to
be attributed to the circumstance that, for the fii-st time, the schooner and her crew were
placed entirelv at my disposal during the greater part of the summer.

fil

>

!-»

In this ropoH tho following order will bo observed : — First, an account will be
given of the cruises, which were tssentiully four in number. UnneceHsary details will
be omitted ; and as tho numl)cr of casts of the dredge was about seventy, no attempt will
be made to give full particuhirs respecting each. The setuiid part will consist of a
Bumniary of tii« zoological results of the expedition ; and in the third and last, some notes
■will be given bearing on the present condition of the valuable marine fisheries of the
Gulf, and on that of the oystttr beds of Nortlmmbeiland Straits and of the northern
coast of New Brunswick. It may be well to premise tliat I loft Montreal on tho llth of
July, 137''5i and leturned home on the 13th of September following.

PART I.— ABSTRACT OF DTARY OF PROCEEDINGS.

c'HUisi: I.

At daybreak on Friday, July 18th, we left Gas])^' Basin, bound for tho centre of the
mouth of the river between Anticosti and the Gaspe petiinsula. From July 19th to
about noon on the 21th we were occupied (Sundiiy excepted) in drcnlgiug in the greatest
depths we could (iud, and with remarkuble success. All through these cruises wo re-
maine<l on our ground at night, and often all <!ay on Sundays, so as to lose no time. A
little after noon on Thursday, July 2 I'.li, a strong northerly breeze sprung up, accom-

p-

anied with rain, so wo tacked sli'p and stood in towards Gaspe Bay for shelter.
Fx'om the 25th to the 28th of 'July, both days included, we were detained in
Gasije Bay by head winds. We luanaged, however, to do some dredging here, and
although I had explored this lotvility pretty thoroughly in 1807 and 1869, several in
teresting novelties were collected, osporially among the sponges, echinoderms, annelids
and crtisiiicca. fiot sail again on Monday evening, tluly 28th, but managed to get only
one good di'.y's dredging in the cer.'ve oi" the chnnuel between Anticosti and tho south
shore, when we were compelled to return to Gaspe Bay I'V sti'ong northerly breezes and
dense fog. We tihcliorcd in Gaspe Basin on the evenii i^; cf July 30th, and remained
there tv»o days foi- supplies.

Duiing this cruib(; we got 14 more or less successful casts of the dredge, exclusive of
three in Gaspe Bay. Of tl;ese, Nos. 2, 3, 4, G, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 were in
depths of from 110 to 220 fathoms. Nos. 1 and 5 were in 50 and 40 tathon s respectively.
Obsei vations on the temperature of the «lee))-sea mud gave aj^nost exactly the same results
as on previous occasions. Tlie general average temperature is about 38° or 39° Fahr.,
but near the centre of the mid-channel betA\ten Anticosti and the south shove, though
nearer to the island than the main land, there are indications of a warmer bottom current.
The instruments we had did }U)t enable us either to try j^and deline the limits of this
current, or to examine and see if tho water was fresh or less salt than usual where the
highest reading was registered. 'J'Jie circumstance that there appears to be no •difference
between the animal life existing at places where the temperatui'e is higher and where it
is about the average, seems to be unfavorable to the notion of the existence of a local
bottom current of fi-esh water. During our stay in Gaspe Bay we noticed that mackerel
were particulai-ly abundant there.

CRUISE II.

Leaving Gaspe Basin about noon on the 2nd of August, we attempted to beat down
the bay ; but, owing to an almost dead calm, made little progress, and anchored off
Douglastown for the night. The next day, Sunday, August 3rd, we again set sail, but
finding that there was a heavy fog outside and a stift" bre^'iie blowing, an:;hored in
Boisbrule Cove. On Monday, August 4th, we were a little more successful, for ulthough
a strong N.N.E. breeze was blowing and tho'e was a heavy sea on, we got outside Gasp6
Bay and under the lee of Bonaventure Island. We were bound for the Orphan Bank,
but the wind was teo high and the sea too heavy to dredge exce])t in sheltered places.
The remainder of the day wu.i uccuidingly devoted to dredging off the northern entrance
to the Bale des Chaleurs, between Cape Despair and Grand Pabou, where we got iwo

5

of

hauls, one in 70 fp.thoms, meaBurecl (No. 15), and ono (No. 16) in HO fathomo. A littlo
beibre midnight, as the M'a went down and tlio Ijveozo niodemtod, avo made for the Orphan
Bank, and spent thres (htys (August 5tli to 7tli, inchisivc) drodj^ing on it. On this bank
we dredged in ten difl'erent places (Nos. 17 to 26 incluHivc), and gut us good an idea as
the dredge would give of it.s structure and of the animal life ui)on it. About sunset on
Tuesday, August 5th, we got niagniticent mackerel lisliingon this bank. Cud taken here
had herrings, crabs (IlmsJ, shells (Xoltl'oi lUnainla), und Ei lomoatruams in their
bbomachs. On flouting TAinunarut', probal)ly drilled from shoie, lino living specimens of .
Pari/pha crocen, Ag. wen* collected. On V,'(;dnpsday evening, Augiist 6th, a little iKjforo
sunset, a strong southerly breeze sprung up, so we tacked sliip and stoud iu for Point ,
Miscou, under the lee of which we v tcliuicd a littlo before midnight. Thursday, August
7th, at 9 a.m. the wind veering to the S.W., Ave hove up the anchor and ran round under*"
the N.E. side of Miscou island, and iinehou'd there iill day in four fathoms water.
Noticed 22 American schooners ancliorod r.ear us. Ifeuvv ruin all day ; no dredging
done. Friday, August 8th, set svil at daylireuk for ihe Hriulelle Uuuk, and on our way
got ono cast (No. 27) l)etween it and Mist'()u Island, in !;'» faMioins, mud and stones ; the
tempciruture of the mud was 42° Fahr. AVe got one haul dI' (he (h'cdgeon Piiday and two
on Saturday (Nos. 28 to 30 inclusive) on lh<; Uralelle Bunk ; luackenl tishing on this bank
also was excellent. At noon on Saturday, A.ugUHl Jith, the vevseTs iiead was put for
the east point of Prince Edward Is'.auil. Siiuilay, August lOtli, sjiotiorv .1 otT Souris,
Prince Edward Island, all day, and went ashore iu th( afieiiioon. The coinnum edible
periwinkle of England fLiltorina litton.dj v:, common at the mouth of the Colville
River; ic was subsequently collected also at Charlottt;town. I'onaparti's gull was
frequent here, as were also terns and various wading birds. Monday, August 1 1th, left
Souris early in tho morning botmd for Pictou, where we arrived a litl h; ;d'ter noon. After
dinner I went with Mr. M. (anipbell to tho niiuiue slip at that pj-t. 'J'hrough the
kindness of }\\v. James MacPherson, the superiut(nident of the slip, 1 had iui opportunity
of examining the ravages of the ship worm in the cradle of the roller frame.
Specimens of what 1 belicAi! to bo Teredo na nails Avere collected boring into black
birch. A schooner from N(.'Avfoundlaud, Just placed on tho slip, had her hull obviously
burrowed by a Tjrsi^o, but of v.liut species foiild not be ascertained. .Mr. 3IacPherson aho
gave me specimens of wood burrowed into by KJiip worms, Avhieh oi iginally formed part
of the hull of a ship from Sydney, Cape iJreton, but as there Avere no .shells or pallets in
the buiTOAVs the species could not be determined. I did not, however, sutceed in getting
living ship Avorms at Pictou, although they a[)pear to ]>e A'ery common, uud are believed
to be doing much injury to (ixed structures as Avell as to ships in that port. Oysters are
said to be occasionally found in the bay, i)ut not in large numbers. ].' <1;Is cruise Ave
got 16 hauls of the dredge (Nos. 1.5 to .'50 inclusive), in dipths of from 2'» i > 70 fathoms.

Tho Orphan Bank, which is .situated olt* the entrance to the P>ay des (jhaleurs, is a
stony patch, as are most of the inshore iishing baidcs, many of which a^o Jiot indicated or
defined on the charts. The masses of loek arc usudly liir.i;e pieces oi a reddish sandstone
(often perforated by tAVO spt>cies of boring bivalves, the Saxieum_ juiijo^u i-.nd Zirphoea
orispata), Avith a small proportion of piecc;s of Laui-ontian gneiss, itc. Animal life Is pro-
fusely abundant heie, which is inidoubteilly the )eason why cod, n;;.ci.er<.l, .tc, fi'equent
this and similar banks in .sm ii tuiormous numbers. Sofc-bodied oj"ganisms of vaiir^iis
kinds give a special facies to this r.u: ticular ono. These ave encriisting sponges ; tunicates,
of many genera and specie;, s v.iio of umisnal size; an Actinia ( Metridium) ', the
common iiorthei'n Alcyoniinn ( nhiff rttiej; Aic>/(Uiiditi»> 'jciatiitust'm; hydrozoa and polyzoa,
in great profusion, itc, ilL'c. Amoi,„ the harder forms are an abundance of the commoner
echinoderms, A^'ith a fcAV scarce six^cies ; large calcareous polyzoa ; and a large number of
fine Crustacea. Shells were toleraldy numerous, though not nearly so much so as on the
Bradelle Bank, and annelids Avere relativt Iv scarce.

The Bradelle Bank is also a stony patch, but the pieces of rock are usually small,
and there is a greater admixture of gravel, sand, and nuxd on this bank than upon the
Orphan. Soft-bodied animals api^ear to be scarce upon the former, and shells occur in

if

unuBunl alnindance. The nfseinlilnge oi liy«lro7on, r'1iitin(lcvn1«<, polyzon, and cnistacen, is
much the nmo on both banks, tbongh ii few ]it'crliar 8|.o('ifs were foi'iid on onch. Tho
rarer fonits ibtind I't ihoM two |iliiot!4 will In- I'ouimI catnlo^^ufMl in (lu- nccond pmtf of this
report. While i-hc animal liio o" >.ho shores of Cn|»o Hrcton (('.\ct'|tt in doc|) watt>r), of
those of the Mujjdalcn group and oi' Princ(! Edward Isliviid, as wcU as lliat of tiifUAjvlin'o of
ITorthuinbe'lanl Straits n\> to the southern nuraiicu to.Lht' I'ilic dcs (jjialeuis, is of au
Acadian or southern typo, tho fauna of the Orphan and linidellc Fmnks lias a decidcety
Arctic or nort1)e:'n character. 'J'lie Hradolle I'ank, in piirlieular, pi-escTits t-hct I'^nsioine'ioii
of a snmll jmtch, tenanted by an assonilila;;n of nun iie avinials wlreh visc.ally inhabit
very cold water, and almost entirely surrounded 1 y anollie;' ne: ; -s. wliieh are for the most
part prevalent where tlte bottom is wanner and more aileeted bv sm'" c '"Miditions of
temperature.

CRllSK III.

Leaving Pictou at daybreak on VVftdt'esdav, .\i"Aust 13tli. we dred-icd to th? S.\V»
(No. 31) and S.S.VV. (Nas. 32, 33, and 34), of Pio.uu Island. Olf I'ictou MimuI the
towing net was very .s\iecessfully used. Anion;^ tlie speeiiuens taken in (.iiis way weie n
curious crustacean (j^tMlhULi parasitic on tho " brit," and tlii'ce spimd siickleback, ytunu^
lobsters about lialfi'ffincnloiig, jelly .islies of sove.'.il kinds, li^..i,:''i irrum'u, Viani'; ei'ab'i,
and smaU amjjhipods. The next day, Thursday, Aii'^'nst iTui, wo (lrei;''e;l to t! e N.E
(No. 35) and N.E. by E. (No. 3G) of Oarie Gyorge, N.S., also in several ')]• -es {.\.a. 37 to
40) between Capo George and Port Hood. AH the af.:-noon we wc e l'i';Mdined cII
Port Hood, Capo Proton, but at sunset a southerly br • spnnir; u,t, so \.o tachad
ship and beat down towards Cape Geor<;e. On Friday, Js \yust, lr)tli, having ] tniously
dredged in almost a straight line fioni Pictou t(.) Pott Hood, startin'^ from near iho
Ip.tter yilace. we made directly for tho east junnt of Prir.ee Edward Island, and on our
■way got one good oast (No. 41) in the eentie. We also irot two hauls (Nos. -12 and 43)
to the S.S.W. of the east point of Priiioe Edward Isla".', r.nd one en tli" ^li'iK^ l'>iinl:.
This latter is a small rocky patch, covered with (juantitit ^ of the »,eniiiiou cake niehin
{ErhiiarudinhtH) and fine zoojOiytos. We also got one cast on tliis day (Xo. ■\'>) a'loe.t
nine miles to the S.S.W. of Snuris Head, Prince Edw; rd I^I-uk.'. 'i'he nioiiiiug ot
Saturday, August 16th, was S[)ent in dredging between Cajie iUnir and Pic :'U Island
(Nos. 40, 47, and 48) and in the afternown we made for Pictou, and anelio-e.d tliero in the
evening. In this short cruise we got eii^htocn more or less succcsst'ul hauls of the dredj;('.
The weather was fine, with the exce])tion of one day, Imt the wind was ofieii too liij;ht
for our purposes. From Pictoix along the western coaPt of Cajie I'leion, tlie bottom con-
sists of a red clayey nuul. Marine worms, of many gci;oi'a niid .sjuieies, arc the i)voviilent
forms in it. In most places the bag of the dred^'e coni(^s up willi tangled nir.^s( s ol' 1 nbicoleus
annelids in handfulls, which constitute three-t'uuitlis of the sjiecimens eliiiiincil fi'( iii tho
mud. The sandy tubes in which these worms live, vaiy in tliiimelcr IVoni Ih;^ ,',y to a
quarter of an inch, and in length from^m inch oi- an iueh-and a-lialf u)> to nearly eight
inches. Naked annelids, often of large size, also ocour>.cd with these. Zoophytes, too,
are abundant in this red mud, the tem])eratui'e of which ai)pears to rau're from 40*^ to
42° Fahr., at least at depths of more than 25 fathoms. Oil' tho east jioiut (^f Prince
Edward Island the bottom is suidy, and as the places where we drcl^'cd air- not doe]>er
than 15 or 20 fathoms, the summer temperature at the bottom is pro'ialiiy iiii;li. iv.iween
Cape Bear and Pictou Island the bottom is sandy, with shells and a tV\ small stones.
The area examined in this cruise is tenanted by a somewhat mo;;.!;re and not very ch;';-
ax:teristic Acadian fauna, with a slight admixture of subarrtic foi'ms. f-'une of \'a.) sp' ( ; ■ •■
collected on this cruise ai-e of considerable interest. Nol a trace e\ en of an oyster was
observed in any of the localities examined.

CRUISE IV.

Having previously had teeth put on one of onr dredvfe.s ai Piefou. we lefr t1i:it port
early on Tuesdajr, August 19th, intending to try and exaiuino the oyster b:. h; of Ntrth-

iiml»erliiii(l Stniits, uml of the New BninswioV coast up to Cjirraqnetto. We manrigwl to
(Ired.sjjn otu-o (No. 19) to tlio wost of Pirtou Islniul, iiiul weri thon oonipolloil by Htoriny
wt'dili'tr ..mil Mti- other rcasonn) to iiiakt- for Hhfidiac. Arriving al Point du Ch6np early
the 111 .1 hjwiiiiii^, we were detainod there two davH l»y heavy ho.id windn. We availed
(I'll , fives of the oiipoitiinity to extiiniiie (he Shediac oyste.' bod.s, ami Kjwnt one day
<lredginj( on tlieni. In tlio third piirt of this report, a list will he found of the spocie*
mot with, asHociated witli tlio oysters, as well .is voni" account of what wn saw of t\\9
present condition of the l)ed8.

At day-hr«ak on Friday, August 22nd, v, .• IcI'l Point du C'hf'ue, dredged IVom Shediao
(Nos. 50, 61, an<l r>2,) to tho Egmout Bank, mid stood Ijaek again to the south shore in the
evening.

Tho Kgmoiit Bank (No. 53) is a small ro(;ky patch to the tiorth-cist of ."^hodiac Bay.
It is less than ten fathoms di;ep, and the liottom consists of coarse sand and stones, tho
latter covered witli laiiiinariue aiul ^lnalle^ algfe. Home of the stones are burrowed into by
Petri •ol'i j-hol'(Ufurnxis, and anneli Is of larj»o sizo were frequent in the sand, frqm which
also aiKdil Vl ojM!eies of shells wen; collected.

Kavly on Saturday morning, August 2;ii'd, we stood over to the Prince Kdward Islaud
si(h', and dredged (Nos. .51, 55, 5G, and 57.) from a little aliovo St. Jaccpies to Hea Cow
.Head. In the afternoon a falling barometer indicating a heavy storm, wo mado forChar-
lottetowii, and reached there, only just in time to weather out the memorable gale of
Sunday, August 24th.

At OliHilottetown we were detained four days, and 'luring the gale our only V)oat
was badly injund by he^vy floaiin,' logs, but wu couhl not ninuageto get another although
authorized to do so.

Leaving Chailottetown on Thursday, August 28th, we dredged once in Hillsborough
Bay (No. 58), then stood over to th<> opposite side and examined the entrance to Pugwash
Harbor, where we got two casts (Nos. 59 and 60.) We then returned to Shediac to
transact some necessary business, and were kept at Point du Chfino five days, aa when wo
were ready to leave it lilew too heavily outside for us to do any good, even if we could
have beat out, which was almost impossible.

set sail on Thui-sday, September 4th, dredged to the N. N. E. of

agai.i

Shediac Island (No. Gl), and afterwards (No. G2) in 13 fathoms oflf the West Cape of
Prince Edward Island. The next day, Friday, September 5th, we dredged off Escuminac
(No. 03), oil' Richibucto (No. 04),' and lastly (No. 65) between Richibuctoand Miramichi
Bay. Towards midnight a strong gale rose up, and there was a heavy sea on, so we mado
the best of our way into Miramichi Bay, and anchored off Chatham (New Brunswick) on
Saturday night, Sepiember Gtli.

As there .seemed no piospect of doing any more good work this season, partly on
account of the weather, and partly because Ave had no suitable boat to explore tho
various oyster beds of the New Brunswick coa'?t in, 1 determined to cease operations at this
point. Accordingly, 1 left the scliooner and took my passage on board the steamship
Secret, bound up, on Tue8<iay, September 8th.

Of the four crui.ses the last Wivs the least successful, although it was by no means
barren of results. Most of the time was unfavorable for dredging ))urposes, so much so
indeed that out of 19 ilays wo only mansiged to work on part of six. Still, on this cruiso
we got 16 casts of the dredge, and obtained a fair idea not only of the fauna of tho greatest
depths in Northumberland Straits, but also of that of tlie oyster beds of that region. I was
particularly desirous to try and ascertain if thc-ro were oysters living in any parts of North-
umberland Straits at greater depths than three or four fathoms. In a St. John's news-
paper it was stated that some one had dredged oysters between Richibucto an 1 the West
Cape of Prince Edward Island, in 1(5 fathoms water. We dredged all through Northum-
berland Straits, in the centre and on each side, especiidly at the mouths of rivers, and
tried also the locality mentioned in the St. John's newspaper, but did not meet with tho
slightest trace of an oyster. In this region these moUusca seem to be confined to shallow
wator, loss than three fathoms deep, in very sheltered bays. Although we pftrtioularly

r=r3S

wished to examine Home of these oyhtor IkmIk nun\itoly, it wan found impracticable under
the circiimstanceR to work the Hchooncr in mu'Ii .tliallow wiitor, and the only hoat we hod
wan not only, nl its lent, very unsiiitablo for dttvl-ring piirpOMes, but waH «o badly dainaj(od
in the j[ale nf ( 'Iiiiililetown as to be quite uHnh^Ks, Homo valuable information as to tho
jircBcnt condilioii and j»ros|>ects of tho oystor brl.s oi" Now UruuHwiok and I'riuce Edward
[hland wan, howevui-, obtained from roHidnntH upon ilie coast. To ttxamino the oyHter bedl
of the Gulf of St. Lawrence en'ectually, steam power would l»o desirable. In case, how-
ever, a «ailing vessel is used, «ho should bo i»rovidud with a boat of light draught, of toler-
able Hi;ce, and capaltlo of carrying one or two sails. It is also eminently desirable that the
captain in charge should bo particularly well ncrpuiinted with the coant. It happene<l that
the captain in command of the schooner diii iii:; Unt last ciui.sn had nuvcr navigated the
Straits of Northumberland Ijefore, and to makt' jaittt-rs worse, we had no proper charts on
board. Tho only boat we had was un.soawortliy, us woll as far too small for dredging
imrposes. The weather was more or less hluiUiy all the tinio, and the season being fur
advanced, after a Uiw unsuccessful attempts at tlredging on well known oyster grounds,
finding we wci-i.' ntdy losing time we wore reluctantly compelled to desist.

Duiing the iivHt three cruises, Cai)tain J. N. Purdy commanded the schooner, and in
the last. Captain M. Orabiirn took charge of her. To both of these gentlemen my thanks
are duo for their continued kindness, and for their intelligent co-operation in cai'rying out
the objects I had in view ; I am greatly indebted also to thje whole crew of the schooner,
for their ready assistance in tho work in which I was engaged, withouL wlii-.-li, indeod|
ntanj of the specimens colloctod would 'i.^ vo been lost.

PART II.— ruo VISIONAL sL'iM:,:.'vRY 01*^ tup:

OF THE EXPEDITION.

ZOOLOGICAL . ESULTS

As has been stated at the outset, tho number of specimens colloctod last summer is
very large. Only a small portion of these have at present l)eeii ;;tudied. With the
exception of a few omitted by accident, nil the cnuclidsi collected (filling some 80 bottles)
have been Jscnt to Dr. W. C. Mcintosh, F.i^.i:!., \\ Iio hiwi kiu.lly promised to examine
and report on them separately. To Professors A. E. Verrill and S. J. Smith, I am again
indebted for much valuable assistance in the determination of critical species which could
not be named here. To save reiteration I liavo prefixed an * (asterisk) to the species
named by Professor Verrill, and a + (dagger) to the crustaceans identified by Professor
Smith. A few specimens from former years dredging, which have not been determined
before, are included in the following list.

FORAllINIFERA.

The microscopic species have not yet been critically examined. In the deep-sea mud
three or more species wei-e noticed which are plainly visible to the naked eye.
They are all from 200 to 220 fathoms ; one appears to be MarginuUna spinosa, Sars,
another is probably Triloculiiia cryptella, D'Orb. and the last is an arenaceous form new
to me. This latter presents three prominent varieties : the first is a simple, unbranched
tube, nearly straight, and sometimes fully an inch in length, but always less than a
sixteenth in diameter ; the second is widely triradiata, not imlike the calcareous spi(3ules
of n-rantia ; while the last is irregularly cruciform. These three extreme forms are con-
nected by transitional specimens which seem to shew that the whole are varieties of one
species. I am xmable to state whether they should be referred to the Asterorhiza limicola
of Sandahl or not. These organisms, though gregarious, appear to be exceedingly local ;
they occurred to me in only one locality.

SPONGES.

Probably as many as fifty or sixty species of sponges from the Gulf of St. Lawrence
if not more, are represented in the Museums of the Natural History Society of Montreal ,
and of MoGill College. As there is no such thing as an accurately aamed series of British

in a
lules
3on-
ona
icola
leal ;

«H<*cip» in tho Dominion, it is voi'y diflloult to nscortaiu whicli of the C'rtnadi.in H[»pric«Hrfl
new, nnd wliicli have hoen proviouHly <lo,soril»oil. Aftor a 1«)ii|l? study of nil tliw Kppcimonii
acoessiblo to me, tho foUowinj^ i<. ii list of tlio fnw to wliicli I hivvo vouturod to attach a
namo. In a great ninnbei' of c.ih •; Ills dilUcult evon to rofor tixe spocimons to any known
ganiiH.

Cuhinj)0)i>fi(r,

Oranda ciltata, O. Fab. Widely spifud all through the Gulf, in depths of from
twenty to ninoty fathoms. Ft appnars to be most abundant wlioro tho bottoui is rocky.
Taken in 1871, 1872 and 1873.

Asrortln/rnyih'Ufllwcki^]. BnvdcUo I5iink. Professor Vorrill, to whom I am indolttoJ
for the identification of this species, writes nio that it is tho Ltucotolenia botryoidea of
Professor H. James Clark, but not of Euuppean writers.

S!licisponrfi(r.

Thecnphora aemisuherites, 0. Sclimidt. Tolerably common in moderate depths (20 to 90
fathoms) throughout tho nortliern part of the Qulf.

Thecophora UAa t Wyvillo Thompson. A lew specimous aro oncasionally found with
the preceding, which differ somewhat from typical Thecophora teniiauberites, and should
probably be referred to this species.

Ilyalonema (Styloconhjla) loiu/issiina, (». O. Hars. About a dozen spocimoiis of this
interesting sponyo wei-e vlredjjed last summer in 200 to 220 fathoms between Anticosti and
the south shore, witli the three following forms.

Cladorhiza ahi/ssicola, G. O. Sara. One specimen of this rare species was taken in
1872 and another in 1873, in depths of from 120 to 220 fathoms. Tho St. Lawronca
specimens have a few pinnie ai-ranged at right angles to the main plane.

Trichosiemma hemisphcurimm, G. O. vSar«. One cxam[»le, a little narrow and higher
than the type, was dredged last ye.ar in tho same locality iis the Jfi/nlonent't,

Tethea murica'.a ? Bowerbank. Three fii)«cimeuu of a s[)onge, whi^h I doubtfully
refer to the above species, were brought up by " tangles " in th<i 220 fathom locality last
summer. I have given a short description of this very interesting form in the *' Amaricaq,
Journal of Science" for March, 1874. Mr. G. T. Konui^ly, M.A., of Montreal, had
previously detected spicules of this sponge in tho Post pliocene clays of the environs of
that city.

Polymastia mammillaris ? MuUer. From 160 to 170 fathom^, mud aliout 15 miles
from Can Rosier. 1872. Two specimens.

Phakelliri vcntilabrum ? Linn. Ta 75 to SO fathoms stones, six and a half miles to
th» E. i S. of Cape Gasp<5, 1872.

JJalichondria fAmophina J panicea, PixWiiH. A ctmmon shallow water species, of
whick water worn specimens are often cast ashore. It is seldom taken in a living state
owing to its preferring rocky bottoms where tlie dredge cannot be used. Living examples
taken in 1872 from a depth of suvcu fathoms off Cape Rosier, were of a somewhat bright
pea green colour.

Isodietya i7t/andib'dl/ormiif, Linn. Principal Dawson finds this species abundant at
Murray Bay, Rivi6re du Loup and Tadoussac. With me it has occurred somewhat rarely
in Gasp^ Bay and its immediate vicinity.

Chalina oevfata 1 Pallas.

Sarcospongice.
Not unfrequent in the Gulf,

169

>al,
tish

HYDROZOA.

The number of hydroids collected is very large, but only a few of them haVe b«in
at all critically examined. Many of those from the greatest depths seem to be different
from asy de6cribed British speoiea. Professor Yernll informs me that G. 0> San haft

10

Li i<

lately written a monograph or essay on the Norwegiau Hydrozoa, and I am awaiting the
receipt of this to compare the descrii)tion or figures with my specimens. It is thought
that there are many species new to the Gulf of 8t. Lawrence in the series collected laat
summer. In addition to those catalogued in my last roport, nearly all of which wei«
also collected in 1873, the following additional ones have been noticed :—

Uydractinia echinala, Flora. Obelia genicidata, Linn.

Budendrium rainosum, hinn. ^ Obelia (jelatinosa? TaWeiS.

Paryplux crocea, Ag. La/oea dmnosa, Flem.

^ClytiaJohnatoni, Alder. (Orphan Bank.) Sertularella trici'.apidata, Alder.

Hydrallmania falcata, Linn.

ACTINOZOA.

Aleyonaria.

Pennatufa acuhata, Daniellien, var. Canadensis. More sparingly met with in d«ep
water last suhimer than in 1871.

VirgtUarla Lyungmanii, KoU. A few good specimens wei'e tak^n with the preceding.

Alcy&niu.n rubi/orme, Ehr. Abundant on the Orphan Bank, and very common
throughout the northern portion of the Gulf.

Akyonium carneum, Ag. Very fine and frequent between Cape Breton and Piince
Edward Island.

Alcyoninm, (sp.) A suj)posed third species of this genua, at first referrod \)y Prof.
Veitill to Eunepthya glomerata, occui'S rarely in deep u-ater.

Gomulariella modeata, Ven-ill. Dredged in 1871 in 220 fathoms, between the East
Point of Anticosti and the Bird Rocks.

Zuantharia.

Metridivm marginatum, E, and H. Orphan Bank and elsewhere ; very common.

Urticina nodosa, Fab. The species catalogued in my last report as Urticina digitata,
Mull, should be referred to the above.

Urticina crassicomis. Common in many places.

Cerianthus borealis, Verrill. Tubes only, apparently belonging to this kind of R«a
anemone, have been dredged in very deep water ; the animal itself I have not seen.
"^X. Actinopsis (near Actinopsis Jiava, Koi'en and Dan). A single living example was
taken in 1873, from a depth of 200 fathoms.

Epizoantkus Americanua, V. One colony of this compound creeping Zoophyte was
taken in deep water in 1871 and another in 1872, in each case on a small stone.

ECHINOBEUMATA.

Astrophyton Agassixii, St. Bradelle Bank.

* Ophioacoli^ gUmalis, Mull, and Tr. Two or three living individuals o this
northern "brittle star" were dredged in 210 fathoms to the S. W. by S. of the fS- W.
Point of Anticosti.

OphiopeUis, near 0. borealis, G. O. Sars. This species, whose relations have not yet
been accurately made out, is one of the most characteristic echinoderms of the deep-sea
mud, where it is associated with tlie preceding, with OphiacantJm spinulosa, Ctenomscua,
and Schizaster. Entrance of Ga.spe Bay, in 50 fathoms.

Ophiacantha spinulosa, M. and T. Common at ail depths.
Opkisemm ni^tta i 0, Fi Mull. Dmddki UumL.
! Ophioqlypha Sarsii, Lutken. Very abundant, and of large size i.i many places.

j Ophioglypha r^buata, Ayres. Very sparingly met with.

I Ophioglypha nodosa, Lutken, and Ophiopholis acuUata, O. F. Mull. The two com-

I monest species in the Gulf.

\ Cttnodiscus crispattis, Ketz. One of the most characteristic Asterids of the greatest

j deplluk A. large liTing example wa« tahea in 50 fathoms at the entranee to Qasp4 Bay.

4

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PteraaUr mxlitaria, Mull. Orphan Bank, somewhat plentiful.

C'rossaster 2)(ip2)osn, Linn. BradelleBank ; also Gaspe Bay in about a fathom of water.

fc'iii'i(^iiiiiiii^i'i' hiipiifm^ Wyyillu TliuiinMuii. TllO Vnlvuiii ktfeti'm of my LwHt wpert-ig
thill mmiuii; iivliiwh liuw liiuuu IuLlI)' ipniaiuetl.

Asler'ius j>olaris, Mull and Tr. Common at moderate depths. . /> jtg. .?• J^

Asterias Grcenlandicua, St. Orphan and Bradello Banks, (kc. (rf^t* f^. ^. t>*^AX*^gJcr.

Schiznster fragilis, Dub and Kor. Widely distributed in the deep-sea mud.

Psolus phantapus, Linn. Oi-phan and Bradelle Banks.

* fjophothuria Fahricii, Lutk. Bftwoen Pictou Island and Cape Bear.

Cupumaria pentactea, O. F. jNIuUer. Tvo fine specimens which agree exactly with
Pi'of. E. Forbes' drawings and descripti-ins of lliis species, were dio.lged in 25 fathoraa red
mud, off Port Hood, C.B.

Pi^nUicta calcigeru, Sfcimps. I have recently detected one specimen of this scared
Holothui'ian in my 1871 dredgings.

.Sfiiiiiotttiuum (i)piui, M. Dmnit Three small indiviiluais of this species were dredged
in the red mud, about half way betwatjn Port Hood and the East Point of Prince Edward
Island.

CawUna arenata, (Gould). Point du Chene, N.B., at low .water.
'^fi'iiAi oJ\na Jiinvkii, Pfr. Entrance to Gaspd Bay, in §0 fathoms : also 50 fathoms,

and a hnlf miles to the S. E. of Little Pabou.

Some of the commonest species collected are puniosoly omitted in the above list. ^

^^ &£zy,fK.:eXZM '^_Et^, y>-K^. ^^yv^.j ,,,)uf \^:^ \cw ,w. cut' ft-v

^ POLYZOA. ^'^^ V ": K \ . X

For some years I have devoted much attention to this difficult group. A lai'ge
quantity of material has accumulated, not only from rny last three dredging expeditioas,
but from collections made by myself in 1869. To this must be added a series of speci-
mens collected by various officers of the Geological Survey several years ago, and now in
my possession, which has only been parti:illy studied. Only a few of the more conspicuous
of last }-ear's specimens have been carefully examined, and the following sjMjcies, not iii
my last year's report, have been noticed so fiir. .

Cheilostonvata.

Flustra ahyssicola, G. O. Sars. One fine and characteristic specimen ot this species
was dredged in 220 fathoms, 16 miles to the S.W. by S. of the S.W. Point of Anticosti.
New to the American coast.

Eacharipora annvlata, Fab. Gaspe Bay, in from 30 to 50 fathoms and elsewhere,
but always of rare occurrence.

Escharipora punctata, Hassall. With the precedin;.-.

Cellepora scabra, Vvih. Common at moderate depths <>n stony ground, especially in
most of the inner banks. Orphan and Bradelle Banks.

Myrlozoum crustaceum ? Sniitt var., or nov. sp. ] A single specimen of what at a
casual glatice would he taken to be an Eschara, ]n'esents remarkable microscopic characters.
The cells ha\e an avicularium on each side of the aperture, and exactly resemble
Smitt's drawings and diagnosis of his M. crustaceum. It is possible that this latter
species may have an Efhara form, as well as the one (Lepralia like) at present known.
For the present I preibr taking this view to encumbering the literature of the subject
with a new name, and perhai)3 increasing the list of synonyms.

Eschai'oides rosacm, Busk. The species to which this name is attached in my last
report, is, I helieve, Escharmilos Sarsii, Smitt.

Eschura tSkenei, KlI ami i'ol. All the specimens from the St. Lawi-ence with this
nime attached to them, which I have examined, are in my judgment erroneously named.
1 have not yet seen specimens from the Gulf which exactly agree with the European
species. cJ^j^ *^» ctJP m^ f ^ '^f* t->^'s^.

Eachara •(A)y'lhp3\'\jt) m*»imimyo\ RiiluiBi

v.w ,^ y.^. w>y — .,. v., ^...xv^ Althougli the Cellnpararia surcularis of

Packard (^t]ie/\tuc7'asaata of Lamarck) is very different to the above, as Dr. Packard
iustly observes; both species are profusely abundant in the St. Lawrence, and in most

?>^^z: /r^^r-. A*'^^ ^ ^ /j^^e/(^y^'^ ^>^'Ai^, </^^*u.f^t£o^, >^7;

^iut. ^^

12

0

\m

cases occur together. On the Orphan and Bradelle Banks, for example, upwards of 50
fine specimens of each were collected last summer.

Porella (Eschara) hrvis, Fleming. Two fine examples of this species were dredged
(living) on the Orphan Bank. One specimen was also taken i:i 56 fathoms, stones and
coarse sand, eight miles to the S.E. of Bonaventure Island in 1872. "" " '

, HschareUu (Eschara) paJmata. Sars. A rare deep water species, the finest example
of which was dredged in 1871 atio.Hied to a stone, in 120 fathoms off Bear Head,
Anticosti. Smaller sj)eeimens were taken last summer in 220 fathoms, between Anticosti
and the south shore. New to America.

I h
1

Cychstomata.

Mesenteripora meandrina, Wood. Orphan Bank, one living specimen.

jiubvUpora penicilhtia? Fab. Gaspd Bay.

2\ibuh'23ora fun(/ia ? Couch. Gasp6 Bay.

Hornera IkUenoides, Linn. ( — //. horealis, Busker Two small examples of this
interesting species were dredged in 220 fathoms, in the centre of the mouth of the river
between Anticosti and the Gaspe Peninsula.

Ctenoatomata.
Alcyonidivm gelatinoium, Palla:. Very abundant on the Orphan Bank.

TUNICATA.

> »

Most of the species, of which a list is given below, were kindly examined and identified
by Prof. Verrill, who has made the study of these animals a specialty. To all these an
asterisk ia prefixed.

^Boltcnia ciliata, Moll. Orphan Bank and off" Cape Bon Ami, in 30 fathoms.

Eoltetiia BoUeni, Linn. {-B. clavata, Fab.) Entrance to Gasp6 Bay, and off" Cape
Bon Ami.

Jscidiopsis cowplanatus, Fab. In great abundaiice and of extremely large size on
the Orphan Bank. A common species almost everywhere in the Gulf.

^Eui/1/ra jnlularis, V. Exceedingly abundant, but small, 10 miles north of Shediac.

I'elonaia areni/era, St. Common throughout Northumberland Stiaits, as well as
between Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island. Rare in the northern part of the Gulf.

*Molgula jmnnosa, V. Orj)han Bank, one specimen,

*Molgula UttoraUs .^ V. Between Pictou Island and Cajie Bear, Prince Edward
Island.

^'Molgula prodzicta,y. Tu 15 fiithoms aand, five miles to th? N.N. E. of the east
poini of Prince Edward Island.

*Molgula pajAUosa, V. With the preceding.

'''* Glandula Jibrosa, Bt. Ofl" Port Hood, Cape Breton.

*Cynthia monoceros, Moll. Between Pictou Island ai'd Cape Pear.

*Cynthia carnea, Kg. With the above. .^4i\^.

Cynthia liyriforrtiis, Rathke. With the two preceding ; also common on the 0 ph§n
Bank.

*Leptodinum alhidum, V. Between Pictou Island and Cape Bear. . -t

^Amovroeciwn glahrum,\. Orphan Bank. 'v

,

I

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MOLLUSCA.

The number of .species of testaceous molluscs collected is somewhat large, and as I
have elsewhere (Canadian Naturalist, new scries vol. 4, pages 4S-57, and 272-73 j alsO
vol. 5, page 104) given a tolerably complete catalogue of the mollusca then known to
inhabit the Gulf to the north <..'' th • Bay des' CUaleurs, a list is only gVNn of somt of
the scarper forms,

\

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Terebratala aeptentrionalia, Couth. Two living specimens were taken in from 200
to 220 fathoms.

Terebratella Spitzhergensis, Dav. Occasionally taken at depths of from 30 to 90
fathoms. I have collected it at about a dozen different localities. Judging by the unique
specimen in the British Museur ' doubt the correctness ot regarding 7'. Labradorica,
Sow., as synonymous with thib (1.

Pecten Grvenlandicua, Ch. i^'ound in consideniblu numbers at some localities in the
deep-sea mud. I have picked as many as .lO or 60 living specimens at one time from one
" tangle," or " swab" as the sailors would call it. It is quite common to find individuals
each oIasj)ing n single fibre of the tangle between its valves .so tightly that it is barely
possible to pull it out.

J)acryd'mm vitrtuni, MolL .'Commoyat depths greater than 100 fathoms.

Yoldia limatula, Say. Very common fn_yorthuni berJand Strait'i, alsQ J.)£tweea
Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island, but rare in the northern part of the Culf.

Yoldia mpotUla, Could. Occasionally met with with the jibove, of which it is
probably a variety.

Portlandia thracius/onnis, Storer. Rare .and small, in the dee[»-3ea niu 1 north of tho
Bay des Chaleurs ; larger, but dead, on the west coast of (Jape Breton.

Portlandia lucida, Loven. In muddy bottoms, tit deptli;5 of from ITjO to 313
fathoms ; not common. Closely allied to, if not identioal with, tho Yti'diu obesa of
Stimpson. ^,. - _^ , .« .- .-.-

Portkmdia frigida, Torell. With the preceding.

Area pectuuculoides, Scacchi. A common deep-.sea specie's.

Cyprina Islandica, Linn. Northumberland Straits ; also between Cat>o Breton and
Prince Edward Island.

Astarte lacfea, Brod. and Sow. Very abuudajit on the Bradelle Bank ; scarce on
the Orphan.

Astarte, near to A. suba'qtiilafera, Sow. A charicteristic deep-water form, wliosex*
specific relations are obscure. Possibly new to science. /? ^>.^.».X^ ,^vt^- <r^^. ea^fc*

i^g^

Astarte undata, Could. In Northumberland Straits, and in the area between Cape
Breton and Prince Edward Island, this Acadian species takes the place of the northern
A. elliptica.

Callista cunvexa, Say. Collected at the sante localities sus the j>receding ; uhso at the
Magdalen Islands.

Venns Jtucttiosa, Gould. Bradelle Bank, large and numerous.

Petricola pholadi/ormia, and var. dactylus. Northumberland Straits.

Mactra solidissima, Chemn. Point du Chene, low water.

Mactra lateralis, Say. 10 fathoms sand, about 10 mile.s ii.orth of Sludiac.

Montacuta elevata, Stimps. 15 fathoms sand, olf the east point of Prince Edward
Island.

Pandora trilineata, Say. Northumberland Straits ; also between Ciapa Breton and
Prince Edward Island.

Thracia Conradi, Couth. Large and rather frecjuent on the Ije.-fli Mt Poiut du Ch^ne
after a storm. Alive in 12 fathoms offPicton Island. t^

Periploma pcijiyracea, ^Av. Widely distributed throdghout the Gulf in moderato \

iWths. Wv4, vv. yv-^wtcl/t^lOT^

Teredo navalis, IJnn. Picfnu, N. S.

llaminea solitaria, Say. I"';', h at Poiut du Cheue. -

Philine quadrata, S. Wood. A few living specimens were collected in very deep
water.

Citfii«kna ^tmiiliomtaf Ment> In 200 fathoms mud ; dredged in 1872 and 1878. New
to America.

Siphonodentalium vitrewn, Sar». Sparingly taken, living, in the same locality as the
preceding and following species.

Dentalitun ttUentKitutnf Say. I regard this shell as identical with th« J), denttile at

>;

A

':-U'.

I)

fi

It \

/^^/o^X'^ ^ ^'^n>i^l, i^'^C ^/J<^, 7?L>.<J.,

\K

I

Gould, and with the D. occidentale of Stinipson ; it is also, in my judgment, the same as
the D. abi/ssorum of Sars.

Amicnla Enitrsonii, Couth. Fine on the Orphan B.ink.
Atrruea nheus, Con. Low water at Point du Ch6ne.

Grepkbda fornieata, Linn., and G. iinyuiformls, Ltim. Those two species range
from the area between Piince Edward Ishind and (Jape Breton, through Nortliumboi-land
I Stmits, along the coast of New Brunswick as far to the nortli as thv? southern entrance to
I the Bay dea Chaleurs ; Carraquette Bay, N.B., seems to be their extreme northern
; limit.

/ Margarita argentata, Gould. Taken in rseveral localities.

I Littonnaliftorea, lAnn. Observed at Mouris and Chnflott-fovn, T*n'nfi» Edward

' Island. g>. <^4/»u crn^„^e/f.L, fnAjJLty*

(^4^ie*t£«/ Jil'iliflii carinata, Mighcls, amK jiiii ■ruhlaih^'r-Mrii^. \ f>-.v of ea(;h of tliesa
' \ ' diminutive sj)ecies were dredged in 200 fathouia mud.

Odostomia trifida, Totten. One specimen, Point du r!hi'n;\
Turbonilla intcrrupta, Totten. Siiediac Bay; fr«Mpi(nit.
Lunatia triseriata, Sav. Northuuiberlaud Straits ; also between P
Island and Cape Breton.

Lunatia immaciilata, Totten
Island. '

^ ff'r'^'M-'"/^"''- rv*'-'"*", "'^'^"'' ( "''""' '" '' •«»• 1 y Two living s])ecimens of

this rare arctic shell were dredged, one in 110 and the otlier ii\ 200 iV.f-i'Vn?, between
Anticosti and the south shore.

' Bittiuvi nigrum, Totten. Point du Chene, N. B., at low water. ^ >'

Bnccinum tenue, Gray. Orphan and Bradelle Banks, line. ^ ^'^^^ ^ "^

Nassa ohsohta. Say. Beach at Point du C^hf'iie. ,. ^ , 'V^^^%l**'^ • "* S'L..'^

\ Jstyris HolboUii, Beck. Orphan Bank, j: Qy^i-^ ^^^r-^.-^^

Imi/cla rosacea, Gould. At low water, Point du C

Ojphan Bank, and Ijetv.i

I'lnce Edward
u Capo Bear and Pictou

.>•>

>

I'

- V:

\VrV' ■*
«^jri 7 nto9io/u8U$ Kroyeri, Moll. Orplian Bank.

^ \ Tntonofnsus latericeut, Moll.

ll

>

Brndelle Bank, one living and adult example.

Neptuncea tornata, Gould. Orphan Bank, rare.

Neptunoea Spitzbergemis. Orphan Bank, six or seven living specimens.

Volutopaius Norvegicv.s, Chemn. One living but immature specimen of this very
rare shell was dredged on the Bradelle Bank ; an adult, but very much water-worn
example was taken off Bonaventure Ishuid in 187-.

Trophoii craticulaiiis, Fab. Orphan Baidc and otF Cape Bon Ami.

Bela harpulavia, Couth. 30 fathoms, oti" Capo Ko>iier and Bradelle Bank.

Bela violacea, Migh. Off Cape Bon Ami and euti unce to Gaspo B-iy.

Bela cancellata, Migh. Northumberland Straits.

ANNELIDA.

As has been previously stated, nearly the whole of the annelids collected have been
sent to Dr. W. C. M'Intosh for identification.

Priapulus cuudaius, Lamarck, was dredged at the entrance of Gispc Bay, also off
Cape George, N.S. A very distinct^^pecies of Priapulus, piobabl y unde^; jriljed, and lacking
the strong longitudinal and transvefse sulci characteristic of P. caudatus, was collected
off Port Hood, N.B. A small G ephyrean, whioh inhabits small shells (such as Satir\
Bela a.nd especially A^assa <nft«ato), and which Prof. Ycrrill tells me is P/iif-rolo.iomi:
) eeementarius, Quatre/ages, is abundant through Nor;humijorlaud Strtdis, and Id the East
of Prince Edward Island.

CRUSTACEA. ! • '

Prof. S. J. Smith (of Yale College) has very kindly examined nu\ rlet or mined for me
most of the critical species in this family. To thop.» a (1) U p;i'fl\e I, Xlany of tlic C^nia-
dian marine cioistacea are described by ^royer and other w liters, iu joiunTls \,'Lich tu'«

ytfJK f/Tv

e as

mge
[and
0 to
nern

vard
hesa

wanl

ictou

us of
weeti

1 . v^

very
worn

been

so off
eking
ected

at'ii''.

East

15

not to be found even iu ihe lai-gest libraries of the Dominion ; henco it is almost impossible
to idcntirv the whole of them here.

«
Order Pycnogonoidea. ,,

AjmphoHy small species. Orphan Bank. .;« .■

.' :;"T •• • ' ^ ''

Order Cop'','''"!''. - '> '■

ilrenrf.vs Patersonii. Towing net, frequf'iif.

Argukis, sp., near A. aloave, Gould. On (liatbiroHtas hiaci'/eatan oT Pictou Island.

iNehalia bipes, O. Fab.
BmdoUc Bank.

Order Phyllopoda.
220 fathoms, between Antlcosti and tbu South Shore :

Order fsopoda,

iiojiipua, S)). On Il!ppoli/te fipina and Pdiidalus unHuliom'nts, from tho Orphan Bank,

Jdutea marm(yratu, Packard. ()ri»hau Bank.

Idii,'^ I phospJiorca, Harger. l''our-and-a-half fathoms, Egmont Bank.

IdoU'ii irrornta. Say. Towini,' net, Pictou, N.S., and Point du Chene : low water.
Shediac Buy. Coninion round tho jMagthileu Islands.

Eptlijs iinniiiisas, St. In It fnthoiiis, off liichibucto, N.il.

Aiit/mrci hrru-'iialn, St. (Joiiiui m in deep water (200 fj liom.s)betw«fn Anticosti and
the main land of Gaspe. Very near to the European A. graciiii.

Munnopsis typicci, M. Sars. Frequeut with the preceding.

Limnoria lignorum, Rathke. Dredged by me in water-logged wood in Gaspe Bay,
in 1869.

(Eya psora, Linn. On Halibut from the North Shore. Collected by Mr. W.
Couper, in 1872, and identified by myself.

Order Amphipoda,

iPontoporeiafemorata, Kroyer. 70 fathoms, off Cape Despair : 45 fathoms between
Mlscju Ishind and the Bradelle Bank : 13 fathoms off Escuminac, N.B.

fiStegoceph ui.a ampulla, Phipps. In 110 fathoms, due East of Mai Bay : Northern
entrance to the Day des Chaleurs, in 50 and 70 fathoms ; Bradelle Bank.

Phoxus Kiojeri, Stimpson (not of Bate). About 30 miles to the N.E. of Cape
Rosier, iu 200 fa';homs mud.

flfarpiiui, sp. In 220 fathoms, 18 miles East of Cape Gasp6 : Bradelle Bank.

fMetopa glaclalis, Kroyer. Between the inner and outer integuments of Ascidioptit
eomplatiaki, dredged on the Orphan Bank.

iSyrrhoe crenulattis. Goes. In 30 fathoms at the entrance of Ga8p<S Bay.

iEusinis caspklatus, Kroyer. Or])han Bank, one very large specimen.

Tritropis acuUatus, Lep. Orphan and Bmdelle Banks : also from 30 fathoms off
Cape Bon Ami.

iCEdicerot lynceiis, M. Bars. Bradelle Bank. Between Cape Despair and Little
Pabou, in 50 and 70 fathoms.

iAcanth(^tephia Malmgreni, Goes. From 70 fathoms, Cape Despair, bearing South,
three-quarters- West, six miles distant.

fAceros phyLlonyx, M. Sars. Between Cape Despair and Grand Pabou, at the Northoru
entrance to the Bay des Chaleurs, in 50 and 70 fathoms.

iParamphithot pulchella, Bruz. Bradelle Bank, in 25 fathoms.

+ Vertumnua serratu3, Goes. Taken with the above, also from 30 fathoms just inside
Qasp^ Bay.

Acanthosiont cuapidata, Lep. Fine and frequent on the Orphan Bank.

16

1

■■'?•

WW

B'^ '4. \

Acanthozone, new species, fide S. J. Smit.n. Collected at a depth of about 30 fathoms,
at the entmnce to fiaspd Bay.

Kpimerin '•rn'niifru, Fab. The most characti^i'istic Amphipod of the gi-eate»t depths
in the Northern i«vt uf the Gulf.

\Uuliriujes fidvucinctm, Boeck. Rare in tlio same station as the preceding, but
much more local. 220 fathoms mud.

fGam7narus omatug, Edw. The common "beach flea" of Crasp6 and Shediac Bays.
Probably abundant everywhere along the coast.

fMcera, sp. Ofi" Cape George lighthouse, N. S., in fror 22 to 30 fathoms.

Melita dentata, Kroyer. Between Miscou Island and the Bradelle Bank, in 45
fathoms mud and stones.

fMelita (near M. dentata). Ga8p6 Bay and off Port Hood, C. B.

fMefita, sp. Off Cape Daspair, in 70 fathoms.

fMelphidippa, sp. Off Richibucto, N. ii., in 14 fathoms. 220 fathoms between
Anticosti and Gaspe.

fAmpelinct', sp. Uradelle Bank (two species) : between Cape Bear and Pictou Island :
off Sea-Cow Head, P. E. I., and off Pugwash Harbour, N. S.

fHapfoops, sp. Bradelle Bank : off Cape George, N. S., and off Port Hood, C. B.

■^Byblh Gainiardii, Kroyer. Northern entrancti to the Bay des Chaleurs, Bmdelle
Bank, and between the latter place and Miscou Island.

"IFtilocheirus pint/uis, St. Bradelle Bnnk, and between it and MLsoou ; buLwooii Cape
Bear and Pictou Island, and two localiti - in Northumberland Straits.

iAmphithoe, sp. Egmont Bank.

•f Unciola irrorata, Say. Collected at the same place as the preceding.

Gaprella. A large tubercidated species of this genus was common on the Orphan
Bank. A smaller and smooth form was frequent also in many localities.

Order Cuuia^eir.

iDiusti/U.1 quadrispinosa, G, O. Sars. Ju 22 iathoms red mud, eight miles to the
N.E. of Cape George, N. S.

iDiaatylis luci/eru, Kroyer. About 10 miles to the North of Shediac, in 10 fathom
Band.

iDiastylis seulpta, G. O. Sars. With the preceding species.

fDiastf/lis 1 young. 220 fathoms, between Anticosti and the S. short.

\Dia8tylis, sp. Bradelle Bank.

•^Leucon nasicus, Ki'oyer. Cape Despair, S. three-quarters N., six miles distant, 70
fathoms.

j-EudoreUu, sp. With the above ; and 30 fathoms at the entrance to Gasp6 Bay.

Ord^r Schhopoda,

fThysanopoda neglecta ? Kroyer. Cenfi-e of the mouth of the river to the S. of
Anticosti, in 210 and 220 fathoms. Between Cape Despair and Grand Pabou, in 50 and
70 fathoms.

■\-Thy8anopoda, large species. In 210 fathoms mud, S. of the S.W. Point of Anticosti.

fMysidcB near to Erythrops and Parerythrops. Between Cape Despair and Grand
Pabou, some distance from shore : also half-way between Miscou Island and the Bradelle
Bank.

fPseudomma roseum, G. O. Sars. 28 miles to the E.N.E. of Cape G«fip^, in 110
fathoms, also 25 miles E. by N. of Cape Gaspd, in 210 fathoms.

Fseudomma, nov. sp., fide S, J. Smith. Between Cape Despair and Gramd Pabou, in
60 and 70 ^thorns.

Order Decapoda.

Jfectocrangon lar, Owen. Very fine on the Orphan and Bradelle Bahks.
Orangon vulgaris, Fab. Common everywhere in shallow water and at low* water
nuu'k, oa most sandy beaches.

il7

t,70

i. of

and

110

rater

Cmnijon horeaa, Pliipps. Oiplian Bank ixtul 30 fathoms off Capo Bon Ami.

llippolyte spina, How. Common on stony ground At moclerato ilopths. Orphan and
Bradelle Banks.

fllippolyie mncilfiitta, Ki'oyu;-. '7(iiihovn enti'ance to the Bay des Chaleiirs, also
between Miscou and the Bi-adellr; B.uik.

^Ilhjpohjte Phippsii, Kroyer. Orphan Bank.

\Hippolyle pusiola, Kroyer. Orpluin Bank and off Sea-Cowr Head, P. E. I., in 10
fathoms, gravel, stones and broken shells.

Pandalua a.nvdicnrnis, Leach. (>ne of the commonest shrimps of the Gulf, at
depths of from 10 to 90 fathoms.

Calocuris MacAndreir, Bell. A fine living example of this singular and rave species
was dredged in 190 fathoms mud, 'I'd miles to the S. VV. of the S. W. point of Anticosti.
The first that has been taken on the Americm side of the Atlantic.

Enpagurus pubesceiis, St. Fine on the Orphan Bank.

Eupagurus Kvoyeri, St. Wiilely (liscributed through the Gulf.

Jlunidopsis ciirvirostra, milii. Four specimens of a crustacean for which I have
proposed the new generic ami s,)eeilic naint's gi\on abine, wore dredged last summer in
the deep sea mud. Like Paf.udomina roseuui, and Calocaris, the Mnn'dopsis has only
rudimentary eyes, without pigment or facets in the cornea. I append the original
description from an article in the March number of Sillimau's Journal.

^Munidopsis curoirostra, nov. gen. et sp. External antennse about equal in length
to the cai'apace and its rostrum ; internal ones very short, not reaching farther Ihauabout
one-fourth the length of tlic beak. Eyes rii 'imenlary, longitudinally oval, light yellow-
ish in color ; cornea devoid of fiicets. Carapace squarish, but longer than broad, with an
outwardly directed straight spine on each of the front angles. Upper surface of the
carapace granulate, hispid, transversely irregularly plicate. In the centre there are two
dorsal spines, placed one above the other, l)ut at sonivi distance apart. These, as aro two
similar spines on the tail segments, are all exactly in a line with the rostrum, and the whole
four point forward. Kostrum simple (without the spine on each side of the base so charac-
teristic of Munida), conspicuously curved upward, stout at the base and gradually
tapering to a fine point. A single spine in the centre of the first and second tail seg-
ments, the rest devoid of any. Anterior [)air of legs about as long as, but not longer,
than from the apex of the rostnim to the end of the tail, extending a little beyond tha
tips of the outer antennje. The following are the measurements of an average and appa-
rently adult female : length, from apex of rostrum to tip of tail, 1,38 inch ; of carapace,
including the rostrum, "BQ. inch ; of exterior autenme, '75 inch ; of anterior legs, .94.
Inhabits the centre of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, between Anticosti and tho
south shore, in from 180 to 220 fathoms, and probably burrows in the deep sea mud.
From Munida it may at once be distinguished by its curved and simple rostrum. In the
rudimentaiy character of its eyes it closely resembles Galocaris, but not in many other
respects.

Hyas aranea, Linn. Ori)han Bank and entrance to Oaspe Bay.

Hyaa coarctata, Leach. A very abundant species.

FISHES.

Gasterosteus biactdeatus ? Shaw. Very common on the surface, also at low-water*
mark, throughout the Gulf I think the common three-spiued sea-stickleback should
rather be referred to Shaw's species than to the G. acuWitus of Linufeus. The American
species of this genus seem to require revision.

Liparis, s[). A small fish, probably the young of either L. vidyaris or L. Fahricii^
was dredged in 70 fathoms, six miles oil" Capo Despair.

Centrotiotus fasciatus '} O. Fab. One fine si)ecimen was taken on the Orphan Bank.

MacTUrm i-upestris, O. Fab. 25 miles E. by N. of Cape Gasp6, in 210 fathoms,
one living example.

Fundulus majalia i Walb. Common at low water in Shediac Bay.

Si 'J

^JUvw

Clupea ininimri ? Storor. A small Hah, wljioh may bo this species, was frequently
taken in the towing no{ •■>t vuiious loculitvjs. By fmhennen from the United States and
from the maritimo provinces, it is locally known as " brit," and is said to form part of
the food of the mackerel.

PART 3.— NOTES ON THE MARINE FISHERIES, AND PARTICULARLY
ON THE OYSTER REDS, OF THE (JULF OF ST. LAWRENCE.

The following notes an;, to a lar;{e extent, a conipilation of scattered items of
information, j^acherod fiom various persons residing along the coast. Captain J. N.
Purdy, who commanded the iWo/'e/'.yo'/tduringtliij first three cruises, and who has hud great
experience as a fisherman, hoth in Canada and iu the United States, has helpeu me very
considerably in the preparation of this part of my rejjort ; and to him I am indebteil for
most of the I'lcts subjoined. The lute M. H. Perley's Repoi-t on the Sea and River
Fisheries of New Brunswick, pul>lished at Fredericton in 1852, contains a valuable
amount of lo»' il information not to be mot with elsewhere. These notes may bo looked
upon as suppl mientary to that u.«eful vo'ume. The clussitication adopted is essentially
that of Dr. G anther's Catalogue of Fishes, in the Biitish Aluseuin. Professor Theodore
Gill has published a critical "Synopsis of the Fishes of the Gulf of St. Lawrencr nnd
Bay of Fuudy," in vol. ii., new .sci-ios of the *' Canadian Naturalist." As tJiis lattei- jmper
is probably more accessible than Dr. Gunther's elaborate work, the Uiinies given by both
authorities are quoted here. References are made only to those iislies or invertebr.ites
which are of some economic importance.

Mackerel. Scomber scomber, Linn., and S. pneumatuphorus? De La Roche. Gunther.
Scomber grex, Mitchill, Gill.

For the last four years niiickerel ha\'e re-appe.ired in White and Green Bays, on the
north-east coast of Newfoundland. They have been caught in Bras d'Oi- Lake, Cape Breton,
with hen'ing nets, in winter'; also at Port Hood, Cape Breton, in December. During the
first year mackerel grow to five oi' fdx inches in lengtli. Tlie " tinki-r mackeifl," spoken
of by Perley, ai-e the fry of the common species, which, in tlio seconrl year, attain a
length of 10 inches. In the Bay des Clialeurs mackerel spawn in May and June, and
occasionally a few as late as July. This fish preiers a rocky bottom, partieulaily lianks ;
it does not apparently dislike sandy ground, but seems to avoid muddy bottoms. Groand
MenJiaden are largely used by American fishermen to bring mackerel to the surface. The
Lower-Canadian fishermen use first coarse salt, and then ground fresh herring, for the
same purpose. French Canadians do not seem to understand the proper mode of curing
mackere'. They split them tlie wrong way, do not soak them enough, or kill tliem at
once. This is unfortunate, as mackerel often aboiuid in tlie northern part of the Gulf,
especially in Gasp6 Bay, anil these badly-cured fish are quite unfit for the market. It is
Bald that the use of purse seines for taking niackerel is a very wasteful mode of fishing, as
more are often caught than can be cured, and quantities are killed unnecessarily thw way.
It might possibly be desirable fo prohibit the cajtture of spawn mackerel.

Tunny, or Horse Mackkrel. Thijnuus thynnas, Linn. Gnuther. Orci/ntis $ۥ
eundo-dortalis, Storer. Gill.

Occasionally eaten on the North Sho' . and on the Labrador coast. A fish largel;
cured in the Mediterranean, but never, ' i far as I can learn, prepared for the market by
Canadians.

Tautoga, or Black Fish. Tautoga onitis, Linn. Gunther and Gill.

A delicious table fish, but too rai-ely found to be of much practical value. Very
rarely taken at St. John, New Brunswick, and in the Bay of Fundy.

Cod. Gadus morrhua, Lmn. Ginillier and Gill.

Codfish appear to leave shallow soundings and thy inshore banks in winter, and go
farther out to sea. A large school visits the east coast of Cape Breton, from Chetigan,
round by Scatari, in April. Cod appear to spawn all the year round, even in winter.
Schools have been taken spawning on Brown and George's Banks, in February and

as

:el'

by

ery

March, also in Novpinher nnd Docenibor in th'^ Bny of Fiintly ami olxewhere. A fow
codtisli are t»'. ■ now ami thou in Gaspe Bay in winter. It is not an uncommon circuni
staueo for a scliool of cod to follow he ring us far iis Maliogany [shinds, at the entrance
of St. John PFarhor, New Brunswick, in Fubruai-y and March, where they are taken
plentifully with trawls by the inKhore fishermon. This school does not apparently striku
in shore durinij thf* sumtnor, at least not in New Brunswick. A peculiar variety of this
tish, " with a dark back and a black ring round the jaws " (Purdy) is taken on the Oiphau
and Bradelle Bankn, ns well as on the east coast of Prince Edward island. They are of
a largo size and will, it is siiid, only take the hook nt ntfilU, hence they are known to the
fisherm.'n as '* night Hsh." With (he exception of haddock, cod is the only tish that is
well cured in the northern part of tlie Culf. Uod prefer a bnttom of stones, giuvel, or
sand, especiivlly where shells and crabs abound. The season for cod, nouli of the Bay dei-s
Clialiurs u; fi-om about iVlay IjIIi to Noven\lici- ITith. In Brasd'( r liako, Cape Breton,
also oil the north coast of Newfoundland and in the Bay of Islands, cod and herring are
caught in winter throtigh holes out in the ice. The '• bull-dog " cod, spoken of by Perley,
are supposed to be individuals whivh have been bitten when young by other tish. A
piejudiee seems to exist along jiarts dt' the coast against the use of "trawls " or bnltow
lines, but I have not heard of any that .!i)pear to me sound urgunn-nts against them, ft
Is believed by many expeiienced tishcrmcn that (pumtities of voung cod are annually
(Vstioyed by drag seines, used for bait near shore, Vait it is not easy to suggest a remedy
for X\v.\ stat^ of things. Tlie clam, of which Perley says the cod are jjarticularly '"onil,
is CyrlinJarki tiiliqna.

HAfiDOCK. (iadux (f(/le/mn8, Linn. Gunther. Melanoy rammus (f(/lej!ntis, Linn., sp.
Gill.

Most plentiful on the south and west coast of Nova Scotia, and on the west coast of
New Brunswick, but common throughout the Gulf. This s])ecies is taken all the year
round, generally in schools jdone, but sometimes associated with cod. They frequent
clam banks, in from twelve to eight !.ithoms. A vov valuable market tish, and one which
will be much more so when the Intercolonial Bailway is opened. At Digby, St.
Andiew's and Western Isles, -'Hnnan Haddies" are pi'epare*t fi.t various markets in Canada
and the United States. lIa<l(loeks aie taken on the west c(jast of Newfoundland in "xrinter.

Po" LACK. (iiuhtH vire)(s/ liinn. Guntlier. IWiuhius carbonarlus, Bon. Gill.

Although this lish is commonly called '* pollack " by the fishermen of the lower
provinces and by those of the United >i!tntes, it is not the same as the pollack of Europe.
Its pro]jer name is the coal tish, and it is common to both shoi'es of the Atlantic. The
species is locally kiiown as the " sea-sahnon," and is t.r somewhat southern distribution.
It does not appear to range farther north than the Y.-.-y des Chaleurs, if so far, and has
never been taken in the waters ot the Province of On •' c. The species is most fi-equent
in tideways in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. As ii lable fish it is pi-eferred by many
to cod. To the noi tii of the North Cape of Prince Edward Island no great buhiness is
done in the curing of pollack. They are, exceptionally, caught in winter among cod.
They are not often taken on banks, but mostly along the shore. They school like mack
erel, and are caught at the siu'face, to which they are broiight by ground bait. Their
fiod is said to consist largcdy of herring. The livers of this species yield the best oil ; it
is used for machinery and in making leather. Salted and dried pollack is worth from
$2 to .f 3 per quintal.

"Old Engi-ish Haici:." Jferhiccms vulgaris, Flein, Gunther. Merlneina bili-
nearis, Mitch. Gill.

The (Ishermen of tli" Xown' provinces endorse Dr. Gunther's view that this species is
identical with the true hake of I'^urope. Locally it is called whiting, though the whiting
of English authors {Gadus merlungnu) is a very ditferent fish. Hake are caught in purse
seines, also in herring and po;.;y nets. They are not much used for food, and are rarely
if ever cured.

Amkrican Foukkd Hakk. riiycis ArnericamiSt^twQv. Gunther. Phvcis tenuit,
GUI,

20

TTTZ

1 ^

!4 \

Vi \

'I

Tliis fish is the " ling " of tin* Joiwy nuTflinTitH. Tho Hpecies of forked Imko in the
Oulf require CRreful exniuination, as tlu-re nre as iiiuny as three species in that region.
On the east and west coast of New Brunswick, and on the north of Nova Scotia, the
"ling" w taken from July to Novcniher. It in common on muddy boltoniH tlirougliout
the Gulf; i« Halted and d.ied, with very little huh, exported to the United StateH, and
fi-om there to South A mericu.

The Tohsk, Ti'hk, oh Cisk. Brasmius l/t'osme. t lAww. Guuther. Bi'omnint
Anvertcanun f Gill.

The common cuKk of the St. Iiawrenc«f is taken all the year mund, eHj)eoiaIly in the
Day of Fundy, where tho tish occurs in many localities. C'nsks are dried and ctired with
codfish, and fetch a better jtrice than the latter in the West fiidian n)ark(ft. There are
two species of cusk in tlio St. Lawrence, but their jjcojirnphical mnge hiis not yet been
accurately defined, and I am not sure which ui the two kinds is the one most iVt .juently used.

Halibut. Uippot/loHHiift GrociihimricUH? Guntlxr. Hi poijUisnus Aineriramm, (iill.

The(*anadian halibut aro said to ficMpient the outer banks in winter an<l the inshore
fishing grounds in spring aiul summer. They feed on shells, crabs, lobsters, sculjnn, ttc,
and can hardly be caught in quantity exce|it by trawling. They are highlv pinzed by
inland consumers, and fetch a comparatively high piice. About August halibut are
caught in large numbers to the nor<li of Aiiticosti. They are generally .sold by draught
(of 224 pounds) and Kent to Quebec.

Flouxder. Fhuroiieclts Avh ricunns Walb. Guntlier. Psemlophnronecks Amen'-
canlts, Wall)., h\k Gill.

A common fish everywhere in the Gulf, and cccasionally exposed for sale in tho
mai'keta at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Smelt. Osmerus vlridescenn, Livfiner, Gnnther. Oammts vioidau: Mitchell.

Tliis delicious little fish is, w tnny be, taken abundantly throughout the Gulf all the
year round. In Gaspe Bay smelts are caught in winter like tommy cods, through holes in
the ice. In New Brunswick and Nova Scotia smelts fue exjiorted to New York and
Boston. The si)ecie8 appears to sjmwn in Api;! and May, and extends up the Biver St.
Lawrence, at least as high as Quebec, in the spring and autumn.

Capelin. MoUotvK villosns, Mull., &c.

The habitual use of this fish as manure, along the coast, is considered objectionable,
as it tends to drive the cod further out to sea.

HjiHiUNn. Glvpea harevfjus, JAnn. Gnnther. CJvpea elomjuta, Lesuer. Gill.

In Gaspe last year the first herring of the season appeared about the 25th of April.
The fishing began about the 10th of May and lasted until about the 25th of June, after
which capelin struck in for a Meek or jierhaps eight or nine «lays. The " drifting " season
in and just outside of Gaspe Bny usually commences about the middle of June, and lasts
to the end of July. At Grand A.' anan Eip.s, Captain Purdy informs roe, the use of brush
weirs has destroyed one of the most valuable herring fisheries in the Gulf. The herrings
once caught there were the largest and fattest, and fetched the best price of any in the
Dominion. In the opinion of Captain Puidy, th(! use of drag seines and of brush weii'.H
should be prohibited. At Grand Manan, Canipo Bcllo, and Deer Island, the destruction of
voung herrings bv brush weirs has driven the cod from those localities. The New Bruns-
wick winter fisheries are, or were, an important source of wealth to that province. As
many as eighty vessels loaded with tisli at West Isles, Now Brunswick, for United States
Ports, from October. 1872, to Apiil, 1873. In Apiil, 1873, forty sail of United States
fishermen came to St. Andrew's Bay, New Brunswick, to b\iy herring for bait on the
inshore bank fisheries. It is feared that the use of })urse seines will either destroy or
materially injure the herring fishery. In wint(jr the New Brunswick herring frequent
river estuaries and harbois with muddy bottoms. The rigorous piotection to spawn her
ring at Grand Manan and St. Andrew's Bay is undoubtedly a great public benefit. For
many of these details I am indebted to Captain J. N. Purdy.

Menhaden, or " Pouv. ' Ciupca menhaden, Mitch, Guuther Jirevoortia menhaden,
(Mitchell) Gil. A fish of yery rare occurrence in Canadian waters. Of late years none

'.\l

SI

For

have been found in New BnuiHwick or to the north of Onuul Manan. ^lenhaden are
largely UHeil as bait for inackorol, cod, and lialihiit. The head, tuil, backbone, and olValit
of this tish are converted into manure by j^riiidin^, pieHHing, and adding >i little Halt tu tlieni
so AS to make a kind of ^'uano. In the United 8tateH tliia prepai-ation in worth fioni $tlO
to ^20 per ton. Iced nienliaden iH us(>d as liait for cod and halibut, and the mt'at oi tb«)
■anie tish Halted and siilvsequently finely ground Ih employed to briny luucketel to the
surface. The United Stai.'H metlmd of fishini,' fur mackerel is greatly disliked by fisher
men resident along the coast. The fUcot of it soems to be to draw mackerel further out
to sea, and it seems tolerHl)ly cortniu tlmt in many bays, as in some of those ^ of the East
coast of Cape Ibeton, for example, no muckt.'rel are found now wlnn-e they formerly used to
Vie plentiful. At i\w sanut time the use of meidiaden is not illegal, and United States
fishermen always were idlowed to take miu-kerel (except inshore) before the fishery
clnust^s of the 'J'reaty of 'NViishiiiytou eame into force. It wo\dd lio desirable perhaps
to try and acclinuitize menhaden in Pritish waters. .Ml tlmt would be necessary woidd
be to se'id a vessel oi- two, each provided with a W(;ll loom, to (he United States, and
liberate the menhitden thence procureil, iit the moiilh of any of tli^* New LSrunswiuk or
Nova Scotia Rivers, such as St. Andrew's Hay, L'Ktiiu^', Le[M'eaii\. or i\liis(piash, in New
Brunswick ; or St. Mary's Bay and its tributaries, or riiskeet Itiver, in Nova Scotia.

The Lobster. Uotnaviis Amenrii„as, IC»Uvards. The lol;ster fisheries of the lliver and
Gulf of St' Lawrence, aie of very great economic imjtortauce, more cspt'cially now that the
Hui»i>ly of this popular article of food is m>te(jiial to the deniiind for it in the United States
and in Euroj)e. At present large (piantities of lobsters are shipped to these ccuntries from
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In soito of their increased comm 'rclal value, it is never-
theless a fact that in some of the northein parts of the tiulff^ood nuuki;taMe lobsters are
still used to manure the fiehls I Few can doubt the j.-ropriity of at le^st attempting to
discourage a proceeding at onct* so repreiiensible and wasttilul. 'I'lie \\\[vAt regulation,
forbidduig the taking of lobsters less than a pound and a half in weight, is much com-
plained of by persons engaged in this fishery. They urge that it would l»e U'tter to allow
lobsters weighing a full pound to Ije taken, but not any under that wc.-ight. Mr. W. S.
Brown, who has a lobster canning establishment at Shippegan, has kindly given mo an
account of some of his experiences tluring the past summer. He ssiys that a few .small red
eggs begin to form under t\w tails of the lobsters early in July, and at the end of Sep-
tember the tails were filled up, and 80 or UO per cent, of the hibster.s taken had eggs
attached to them. Late in Septendjcr these eggs had become nearly the size of B.B. shot,
and were very dark in colour. At this tiint* tlie few that Avere tnk* n near the shore
were mo.stly males. Mr. Brow n thinks that the lobsteis leave the sIkuc in October, and
go to deposit their eggs in dee|) water, and that this latter operation is performed some-
times as late as November or DeceniVter. In .iuly and August, Mr. Browu writes mo, " 1
found that 80 to 90 ])er cent, of the lobsters had an abundance of eg^'s, and that 60 to 70
per cent, of tiiem •would weigh less than a pound and a half. Five lobsteivs weighing IJ lbs
each will shell out about one pound of tisli, and my average this season has been about four
and a half lobsters to the jjound or can." " The heavy gale oi last Aiii^ust drove more lob-
sters ashore within five miles of my [tacking iiouses tliaii I could i;i,\!;(' use of duruig the
whole summer." " They foinictl a row of from one to five feet deej', a..d 1 ahoidil estimate
them at an average of one thousand to every two rods of shore." " The next that came
in .shore after those were very siiaill, averaging from two to four inches in length, and
upwards, and the coast seeir.ed alive with these saiall lobsters." It might be desii-able to
establish protected breeding grounds fur lobsters in tiie Gulf, on somewhat the same
general pi'inciple as oyster bed-, art; fornied. The season for lobsters varies with the
locality. In Gaspe Bay they are taken in July and the beginning of August, 'but
further south they appear earlier and stay later. In the south part of the Bay des
Chaleura and on the northern New Brunswick cotvst, they approach the shore late in
May,and leave it for deep water more or less late iu Septembei'. There seems to be a great
difterence of opinion among the coast fishermen as to the time when lobsters spawn.
Veiy simall specimens, always less than an inch ju length were frequently taken by the

I' ' i

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ji

I

towing n(>t in July and Atigtmt nt nomodiHtanc'O frttm lurid, switiiniin^ about among floating
weed. The Hon. W. H. Popo writoH n>e thut lol»Mt«>rs oftt'ii burrow iu tlio sidoH of
oyHtor Ii«!i|m during tlic winter inontliH.

Ciuiiiilian OyMtoru. OHtrmi Virijininua, Listor : i\i\i[ 0»tr(*a lionnlin, LmxwiXkV, It Ih
not ni'CCKMiry or dosiralde to fiilor niiuutcly lien; into tlio Homowhat cuiu|ilicat(>d liiHtory
of the Hynouymy of the two (.Janadiiin Hpt'oioH of oyster. It is Huniinoiit fur uiy prestnit pur-
|)OHe to say that tlio longaiul narrow oystiM", which ih al>undant in V^ir<,nnia, New York JJay,
Ac, was tlio first of t lit' oyHtorH known in I'lu rope from th(! tcinpoiMtc pnrisof N >rth America.
The Hpocios was known to Linna'UH. und was ori.'iiiiliy descrilKMl Ity l.istor iis Ontnen
Virgininna. Kor tin; sliorter and nioie roimdv I form, Lnuiiirek at a later date, jiropoHed
the name of Ontt'(i:a iovftiUs, and ^^avn ii sliorf dia;^ii()sis of the sivi* ^:. F^ inv varietioH
of this latter inollusc oame ho near to sp. ciiiieii^ of the (.'(iiiiiiiuii i<iiii>ii and north
Ruroi>eiin oyster, that it is dilliuiilt I" distinsfni di lietworm th'Ui. Osfri-d Vififiiiifuin
is much the rarest of the two (';inadiaii oyUi-rs, Imt hntwcen it and the (). boi'valh, tlnM-e
are so many interniodiato varieties and coniu'etiii;.' link.;, that niiiiiy nuliiialists douht, (he
value of the specilio n'lations jiroposfd.

As tho geo}»rni>hiciil ranije of the two forms is very similar, eiul a.H my »rin^ipal
object is to eall attention to their ♦eoiioniio iniportiii.ct', t''e two species, or varieties,
will be considered together. In the (hilfofSt. Lawiciice, i>v .iters are usually found in
very shnllow water, nearly always in de|itlis of less than three fathonis, in sheUer^il
bays or months of rivers. In New I'runswick, as has Ihcu shewn before liy i'eiley, they
range from Carnquette to Bale Verte. (.'apt. Purily. informs me fl n • : •;:; have been
taken up on the flukes of aiudiors, in 7 fathoms water, between l.iltleand Bin Carj'ipietto
Banks, in the Hay of Chalems. On the coasts of L'rinco K Iward Ishmd, oysters ire
found in suitable localities, from Pimtte liivor to the west jioiiit ou the Nortliuniln^ilaud
Stniits side ; and in jMalpiMjue or riidimom! Bay, from < 'aseuni]»c(pio to New London en
the northern. In Cape Jb-eton they appear to lit^ eoiitined to l>ras d't^r T,:ike and i.s
tribiitanea, where the oyster region evlciids from t-'t. Aiin';i to 3!iia l{i\er und St. 1\ tc.i-'s
Bay. The few oysters to i)e met wit); oH' Nova b'cotia, ocriii' at .leildoro il'-iid, iiO or -"•
miles east of Halifax Harl>or, alM) C'camtry Harbor. St. Mary's Hist'i- and Lipsoonilie
Harbor, Guysboro' Co., on th ■ outside ; and Pictou IIarl)Our, lliver John, Walhice,
Charles River, and Pugwash, in Northumberland Straits. (Purdy.) We did not find traces
even cf oysters in any )).irt of the are.i between C'i'.]»e J^'reton and Prince Kdward Island,
nor in any pai't of Nortluunberland Straits where the bottom is deeper than five or six
fathoms, that is to say not in any of tlas open parts.

In answer to a letter asking for inroriuation on .several points connected with tho
oyster beds of the Oulf, the Hon. W. H. Pope has kindly given me a most inverestiiii,'
and valuable account of the oyster beds of Prince Kdward Island, t.igi-tliei- with many
items of practical information on the subject, which no one else is so well tjualineil to give.
The followin<; paragraphs, to which quotation marks are atiixcd, uie extracts i'roia letters
received from Mr. Pope, and are printed V>y his permission.

" Oysters have flourished in ever}- tidal river and l)ay in Prince Edward Island. At
the pi-esent time, protluctive oyster beils are found in Richmond, Cascumpee. and Hills-
borough Bays, and in tho river.s flowing into these inland waters. I iiiighj almost say in
these localities alone. The produce of the beds in Hillsljoroiigli l>ay is very inoonsider-
ablo. The official i-eturns of imports and exports to and from Priiice Hdward Island,
for 1872, shew that 9,490 bari'els of oysters were shipped from this Islaihl in the previous
year."

7,572 barrels. )
840 „ J
718 „

-on " \ (Chiefly produce of rich niond Bay.)"
" Tht di'edge has never, to my knowledge, beQu employed in the watorsi of Princ«

" From Summerside,

>i

Malpec,

>»

Cascumpee,

»>

Charlotte town,

»

Orwell,

(Produce of Richmond Bay.)
,, Ca'icumpec Bay.)

93

Edwnnl T«<Iiin(l. (^ystcin inv finlioil with "toners." from «l«'p<Ii« viiryiiijf from tlnvfl or
four f<'ct to twi'lvi', nn<\ (n«'n tifti-cii foot. It is srarcoly ^tractiiitililo to HhIi oyHtcrs, with
ton>{M, I* ii (li|i!h m'fiitor than fiftot^ii fcot."

'' 1 ,11 i.Ui, ii.vmv of tlio oxistoiict) of oysti tx-dM in nay put of the Stniitu of Nor-
till" r.f, Iiiiiil, orof tho H(>ii HmToiiiiiUii^ tho [nIiiikI. Suine yon: •( ii;,'i» I olmcrvi'd a (juiui-
tity of oyHttT hi, iIh on tlio Hivtul at thr nortli cml of tlio Tryon Mioals (which urn Hituatfd
on tho Houtli sitloof tlii! Islard) ; thoy wcio about a i|uuit*>ir<)f j iiil' from the Hhor»». Some

iiucli oi our ,s,niiisl(»iw roukfi.

I I.IM

of tlio Nhell.s wcif iillt'd with sand, moiv <"oi.ii'.i>
When I (liisfc ohscrvi'd tlicHc Nhflls, my opinion w,i>; that they liad iK'cn waNJicd ashore
from l)od,s situato in the d(!t'p water of tho M):'ils *<\ North, nnlMilund. It has Mince
ocoiuTt'd to me that they art' in nit.it, and aro iIh* ivmains of nn ancient in.sfrr hed wiiich
had hewn dcstroyf^d l»y the sand. The cxisteiu.'t! ot a soft mutlily liottoui in the vioiniiy
of tliCNO Hhelln HUpports the s\ipposition tliat at somu period thi.s muddy liotloni wan more
extensive tlnin at present ; that the oyster bed waw tlien formtfd, and wii.s (h-stroyod by
th^ eie T'-r 'itiioiit of the sand formiti^ tho Tryun Shoal,"

" Ouiiii , tlie past ten or twelve years, inltflnnH of tons of oyster shells and mud have
been taki ii up by oin' farmers, f)'om (»yster Itcds. l)y means of dredging maehinos, worked
by horsi's on the iee. Tn many instam-es the lu'ils havt; l)een eut through, and iu «omc
places 1 1"' deposits of shcdls have been found to be u]>wards of twenty feet in thicknesH.
It ih pri.ii.ii.li' thai many of the ovster liedn coawt'd to be productive of oystem, ag(!8 before
tho settlemenl mI' liie country by Kuroptans. ICxtensive deposits of oyster shells aro no^r
found covei"! by several feet of silt. How wri'c the oysters upon these beds desti-oyed ?
The iiatura' proceis ot icprodu.'tiou r.iul decay .vould cause tl ■ oyster bed-s formed on the
bottom to rise so near to tho burface of the water, that the i. ) would rest on them. The
wciglit of heavy masses of ice ujton the bcils would injure tho oysters, and the moving of
the icC; when forc«'d by tide or wind across the bed, would soon destroy them. I luve
observed the more elevated ))ortions of an oyster bed, over which ice had been thus
forced. Several ijiches of the Hurface of the bed, including all the living oysters, had
been dri\en U-fore the ice, and the sliells uud oystei-s so removed, had been dejiosited in
a miniature nioraum on the slope of the bed, where tho water wa.s suiliciontly deep to
allow the ice to pass over it. 'J'his crushing and grinding process would destroy many of
tho oysters ; some would be crushed and broken, others smothered in the moraine. The
gradual silting »ip of the river would prevent the running of the ice, and tho oyster beds
would, in time, be covered, as we now tind them. Deposits of oyster shells (covered with
juud), twenty feet in depth, are found in rivers, in the deepest parts of which there are
not now fom-tccii feet of water."

"Oysters liirive on muddy l:)ottoms, but they will not live if imbedded in mud :
many oyster bials have been destroyed by mud alone. The aanual fishing of oyster beds,
if not carried to excess, im^jroves them. Jn the process of fishing the surface of the ^d
if broken »[), the shells and oyfiters lifted out of the mud, and a supply of mateiial /cultch)
afforded such as the oyster spat requires, and without which it must perish.

" Oysters upon natural beds are seldom, if ever, killed by frost. I have known
oysters to thrive upon a hard stony boitom, notwithstanding that the ice i-ested upon
them once in every twenty-four hours throughout the winter. Some of these oysters
grew adherent to a small flat rock about eight inches in thickness. The oysters on the
top of the rock were killed when they attained their second yeaiV growth, I think, by
pressure, as those on its edges Were never injured by ice or cold."

" Oyster beds in nvei*s in whicli sawdust is i'.irown in large quantities would pro-
bably be injured by it. The sawdust would, I think, be carried by the current over the
beds, and the roughness of their surfaces would detain some of it. The interstices between
the shells and oysters would probably become filled with sawdust and mud. Mud and
decomposing sawdust constitute a most ofiensive compound."

" The area of productive oyster beds in the Dominion is comparatively limited, and
altogether inadequate to supply the demand for oysters which is now enormous, and
which is increasing everj year. Unless the existing beds be protected and improted, and

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94

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"ii '■

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h'.:i

9

%

new beds formed, the day will soon come when the oyster beds of the Dominion will
cease to produce. Our neighbours of thp UuiTwl Stoles tell us that Vii-ginia alone ])0S-
scsses more than oTH-r.nd-a-h'ilf millions of acres of oyster beds, and, notwithstanding the
fact that oystej';^ in. t •)•.>! much more rapirlly in the wanner waters of Virginia than they
do in this latitude, tlu- authorities of that State have cxpieased their fours that the oyster
beds of Virginia, if left open to the world, and die J^ed at all seasons of the year, will
become extinct."

" The rivers and estuai-ies of this Island are admirably adapted for tlio cultivation
of oysters. The oysters found in i^s bays are not to be excelled in flavour, and u lished
late in autunni they will kee]) good for months. 1 see no reason why hundreds of tliou-
sands of acres of oyster beds should not be f(;nii<<l in these bays, Avhicli would produce
vast quantities of oysters in quality much superi<ir to the oysters of Virginia. The mate
I'ial for the formation of such beds is at hand in tlie ancient ones ; and oysters with
which to sow them could be had at little cost diivin;; the warm calm days of .suranior."

" We have a ' closf: sf;ason,' from June until September, but the law prohibiting
fishing during this sjiisoii i i oj)enly violated. OysLcis are caught and exposed tor snle
in every month iii the year, and salmon are destroyed upon their spawning beds with the
utmost inq»unity. I shall be happy to hear that the Dominion Government have
resolved to enforce the laws for the protection ot oysters, salmon and trout. We now
form part of the Dominion, as you know, and have a right to look for wis?r legislation
and a better adnunistration of law."

"You inquire — ' do you think oyster ■ would thiive in somewhat deojua* water tlian
that in which they f^i'c now found, if sov. i tbore'r I think they would tluive in the
deepest part ot any inland wntfi", if plaeci' ij >u suitable ground"

In another letter received later Mi-. Pope expresses the hojie that the Minister of
Marine and Fisheries will think ])roper to aitpoinfc a commission to report upon the
oysters and oyster fisheries of the Island, and intimates that in such an event he would
have no objection to give his services gratuitously.

The only oyster beds which we were aVile t) (.'xaniiue at all in detail wore those in
Shediac bay. On tiiese grounds, in very shalluw wuier, the dreuue caini; with the bag
more or less full of oysters, or rather of oyster sliells (for upwards ol' iiineLy per cent, of
the .specimens wei*(^ dead), together with some other •;oinmon kinds of shells, «fec., and a
little blackish mud, which smelt very offensively. As there is a lumber mill in the bay,
this ground is probably an eKamj)le of the " offensive compound of mud and decomposing
srwdust," of which Mr. Pope speaks. In a whole afternoon's dredging we only got two
or three living oysters. Being detained a few days at Point du Chene, I endeavoured to
get some idea of the fauna of the bay, at depths of from low-water mark to thi-ee fathoms,
particularly with the view of ascertainiiig what kinds of marine animals were associated
with the oysters, and how many of them weie injurious to that mollusc. The following
i« a list of the species collected in Shediac Bay ; those which are supposed to be more or
less inimical to the oyster being italicised : —

Crustacea.
Cancer irroratus. Say.
Crangon vulgaris. Fab :
tGammarus omatus. Udtv.
Idotea irrorata. Say.

MoLIiUSCA.

Ostrea borealis. Lam.
O. Vu'giniana. Lister.
Mytilus edni'is. Linn.
M»diola viodiolns. Linn.
Mercenaria violacea. Schum,
Gemma Tottenii, St,
Callista convexa. Say.

Teredo, sp. (in a spruce log).
Haminea solitada. Say.
Cylichna pertenuis. Migh.
Acmoea alveus. Conrad.
Crepidula fornicata. Linn.

" nnguiformis. Lam,
Paludinella minuta.
Odostomia trifida. Totten.
Turbonilla interrupta. Totten.
Lunatia Iieros Say.
Bittium nigrum. Totten,
Nassa obsoleta. Say.
trivittata. Say.

F«tricola pholadiformiG. Zom.and var.dactylus. Astyris Ivmata. Say^

'^'(Ju^

y^AA-

25

Mactm solidissima Chemn.
Mya arenaria,
" truncata.
Angulua tener. Say.
Tliracia Convadi (fine and ficr^ucub).
Pandora trilineata? Say.
Soleu ensis, v. Americana.

ECHINODERMATA.

Asterias vulgaris St.
Cribclla sanyidnolenta.
Echinarachnius parma.
Ech inus Drobachieiisis.
Caudina arenata (Gould).

\.

rx 1 M-

In addition to these, algce wei'e tolerably plentiful, and a few small annelids and
toophytes were collected. Of course the short catalogtie given is by no nieans offered as
a complete list of the fauna of the oystei- Iteds. The chief living enemies of the oyster in j
its native waters are starfishes, sea eggs (Echinus), carnivorous sea snails or wlu^lks (the |
" drills" of the European oysternien), and mussels. So far as I could see, these do not /
•xist in sufficient abundance in Northumberland Straits to be of any serious disadvantage. ■'

Many once productive beds, in various parts of the Gulf, now yield almost nothing ;
and there is too much reason to fear that unless precautionary measures are adopted, the
oyster fisheries of the eastern part of the Dominion will soon become a thing of the past.
The raking of the beds has been palpubly excessive and wasteful ; no such thing as ^
cleansing the ground and scattering the spat during the close season has ever been prac- \
tised ; the pollution of the gi-ounds by refuse of mills, by silting up, and a A-ariety of \
other causes, has led to the present state of ruin and decay which we now see. Neglect, \
waste, and excessive cupidity have almost destroyed these oyster bed.s. and will yiltWiately^ ./
entii'ely do so unless remedial measures are adopted^T'^fVTtlioutiiretenSTng to have any
practical experience of oyster cultui-e, or mucli TTJWil knowledge of the Canadian oyster
beds, I would nevertheless venture the following suggestions : — . '^ • • ■

I. To plant new beds in suitable ^)laces throughout the Gulf.

The peculiar conditions under which oysters are found in Canada make this a very
easy matter. No enclosures would be necessary, as in the French " pares," all that would
bo required would bo to select a suitable locality, as near to beds known to be productive
as possible, be sure that the bottom selected is scrupulously clean, spread clean cultch
over it, plant the oysters, and see that they are not disturbed for at least two or three
years. Oysters are of marketable size at four years old, l>ut attain their prime at tho
fifth. Suitable localities for making new beds aro the mouths of rivers throughout North
umberland Straits, on both sides, many places in Prince Edward and Cape Breton Islands
and part? of the coast of NoA-a Scotia and New BrunsAvick, particularly Biictouche outer
bar and Miramichi Inner Bay, in the latter Province. The great object in all oyster
culture is to " save the bulk of the spat when free." After expulsion from the parent
(as is well known) the fry at once rises and swims about until it meets with a clean ha:\l
surface uO attach itself to. Unless, however, it is an-ested by some object, the spat will
eitier get drifted out to sea, or be devoured by one or other of its many natural enemies.
Another object which it is desirable to eflfect is the separation of the specimens. In a
state of nature oysters li\e one upon the other, in clusters, of all ages and sizes. In tho
majority of cases (except where they come from fc^ds which are private property, and
where oyster culture is practised) for one oyster you eat, a number of immature one<! are
destroyed. " Bank oysters," as these clustered masses are called by tho English oyster-
men, arc difficult to di'edge, and are usually in poov condition. A liberal use of clean
cultch, and judicious dredging of the beds, tend to separate the oysters.

It might be desirable to lease portions of the coast in i )dividuals or companies, for
practical oyster culture. It would be far wiser to protect capi it'.'sts Avho might Avish to
try and develop our resources in this direction, under certi-in regulations, than to allow
things to remain as they are.

2. Excessive and wasteful fishing on existing beds should not be permitted.

Few will gainsay the statement, that in many parts of the Gulf, oyster beds, once
productive, are now almost exhausted though excessive raking. A certain proportion of the
whole should bo set aside, in rotatiou, for a seasson of rest and recuperation. Certain beds

26

J'' A "

■3 k
I' I

w

N

I «

should bo allowed to vest for a definite period, and during this time no oysters should be
taken from them for the market. Uuloss the bottom were foul, or some other agency
were at Avork, it is probaoie that many Itotls might again hecomc productive, if the oysters
were let alone and allowed to breed. It would probably b ■ v.ill botter to dredge over the
beds ai; intervals, and clean then ; to supply new cii'tch Jind .spread the oysters more, so
as to separate them as much as possiljlu. It is important to understand that oyster spat
will not live on a foul or dirty bottom.

Many good auohorities say, and the opinion is rapidly gaining ground, that more
harm than gc xl is done to the oyster beds by enforcing a close time. In the " Report of
the Commission appointed to inquire into the Metho;l of Oyster Culture in the United
Kingdom and France, with a View tu the Introdi-joion of Im[»roved Methods of cultiva-
tion of Oysters in Ireland," dated 1£70, a summary is given (which we quote) of the
arguments on both sides of this quost'on.

"In favor of the existing system of close time it is urged :

a. That during close ti'ne, the oysters are unfit for food.

b. That dredging over the beds will crush and destroy the young spat.

c. That if the oysters are taken while breeding, the supply must soon come to an
end."

"But to all these allegations forcible replies are given :"

" a. It is generally agreed that not more |than 20 per cent., or thereaboui..i, ot the
oysters are ever spawni):g at once, ai. least 80 per cent., even at the worst of times, Ijeing
eatable and in good condition. The celebrated naturalist, Ivroyer, who imdertook an
official examination of the Danish oyster beds, found not more than oul; oyster in ten
spatting, even in July and August."

" b. Those who have been in the habit of dredging for marine animals, and of bringing
up the most delicately organized ci-eaiuro!-. in great abundance alive, will not be disposed
to attach much weight to this objection. E^'ery natiu-alist is aware that the most delicate
Corallines and Ascidians may be di edged up ]'oughly, placed in a bucket of sea water,
and examined in full health and vigour after an ]u)ur's sail homeward under such circum-
stances."

" The evidence of practical oystei cultivatoi-s whom we have examined on this point
is worthy of careful f Itention."

" According to the opinions expressed by " credible " witnesses, not only is no harm
done by diedging over the young spat, but positive injury is the residt ot not dredging
ovei" the ground before the S2)at is deposited."

"But it is rare for the spatting ^o take place early in May, and if it does, as the
young oysters swim about for 20 to 27 days, dredging over the beds cannot possibly do
them harm for the greater part if not the whole month of May ; while if, as is more usual,
the spatting Joes not occur till June, J.dy, or even August or September, not only may
. dredging during these jnonths be totally innocuous to the spat on account of its not having
settled, but, on the theory that dredging over the spat is injui-ious, great damage may
be done in the two first of the open months."

" Even admitting a certain amount of destruction from dredging over the spat, the
question arises whether thus destruction is likely to be greater than that which will result
from leaving the oysier to the undisputed sway of mussels, star fishes, weeds and mud !
This is a question which can only be decided by experience. In t'le i)re-ient state of our
information, it can only be said that legislative interfe ence is just as likely to do harm
as good, and that so far as the present c^)se time is concerned, dredging in May must
certainly have less eftect upon the brood than dredging in September."

3. The [)ollution of bays, estuaries, or tidal rivers by the refuse of mills and the
like, should not only bo prohibited but as far as possible pre/ented. This practice is
not only injurious to the oyster beds, but also to all the other fisheries. Further, it
spoils the anchorage '.u harbors, &c. : instances have been mentioned to me of captains
letting their anchors irop on a supposed good lK)ttom, and finding that the flukes had
•nly a few inches of rotton sawdust to hold on to.

! I

27

i should l»e
her agency
the oysters
26 over the
jrs more, so
oyster spat

, thfit more
" Report of
the IJ lilted
s of cultiva-
iiote) of th»

come to an

,boiu.i, ot the
times, being
ndertook tin
)yster in ton

d of bringing
t be disposed
most delicate
of sea water,
such circum-

on this point

is no harm
not dredging

does, as the
possibly do
moi*e usual,
ot only may
s not having
damage may

le spat, the
will result
s and m\iJ 1
state of our

to do harm
a May must

uiUs and the
s practice is
Further, it
e of captains
16 flukes had

I shall conclude this Report with a few crtracts from the latest works on oyster
culture which I have access to.

The following are taken from tlu.' Report of the Irish Commission previonsly cited.
As part of the Commissioners' experience of the French system, they say:

The French Government have assumed " thft «,'ntire control over all the oyster banks
and foreshore".." " As occasion may seem to require, an entire bank may, for a certain
time, be alto/^ether reserved againsu dredging o[»erations, or any portion of it." " Th©
general practice seems to bo to mark o • buoy oft" a third or fourth of a bank each year;
the remaining ])0i Mm heh\g dredged for a specified time by the persons pennit.-ed during
the number of dny.s allowed f(jr the operation — the I•pser^■(•d poi'tion being also dredged for
a few days to clean it of weeds, mud and vermin." "Evtrything relating to oyster
fisheries is decided on by a local Commission." "This Co'.nmission is jrt'esided over liy
the loi'iil inspector of lisheries, or otlicor commanding the fishery guard, and is composed
as follows : —

" The inspector of fisheries or a syndic.
The officer commanding the fishsry guard.
Two gardes mari times.
One fisherman, being master of a boat."

The following embrace the more Important principles laid down for the guidance of
the Commission : —

" The bed.s should not be openeil for fishing until the spat has acquii-ed strength to
resist the action of the. dredge ; unl'l the end of Jauuiiry, for example."

"When a bod has well established breeding capacit'es, a fourth or fifth part of its
total area should be set apart as a reserve, and dredging ovav such part entirely pro-
hibited."

" A fishery guard boat should, wherever practicable, take part in the working of
•ach bed."

" When a bed is foul or encuml)ered with weeds or other matter noxious to tiie
development or adherence of spat, it should be opened for dredging until cleaned."

" Beds on which there is never any production of spat shall be opened all through
the season."

" After the working of any bed is over, it should be carefully inspected, and, if
necessary, replenished with jiroper ' cultch,' stones, shells, <fec."

" Trawling is prohibited within 525 yards of any oyster beds. The capture of
oysters is strictlv forbidden between the 1st May and Slst August, within the thiee
mile limit, and in international Avaters from June 15th to August Slst."

" Gn lilts of foreshore, or concessions, are mr(^- o persons desii-ous of cultivating
oysters, the grants in most instances beiig much Hn).'';!- than in Ireland, and not possess-
ing the same advnutages as to length of tenure." " Undoubtedly benefit accrues to the
small cultivators of the soil from these grants of foreshore, either for bleeding or fattening
processes, and the Government encourages such enterprizes b}' affording facilities for
obtaining stock from the Government I'eserves, and by occasionally making free graiiUs
both of oysters and tiles. Sailors, or the families of sailors, serving, or who have served
in the Iin})erial Miirine, are allowed certain advantages over other apjdicants for such
concessions."

" The oyster and other fisheries are under the control of the Minister of Marine
Department, forming a special branch under the able administration of M. de Champeaux,
assisted by a pei'iiianent commission of nine members, of which M. Coste is the head."

" On the coa.st the V'onimissaires d'Jnscrii)tioji Maritime Are, in addition to their
other duties, charged with looking after the fisheries, having under them divisional
Inspectors, and occasionally other subordinate employees. T^n's system, as regards super-
vision, affording inforniaticn to fishermen, enforcing regulations, and collecting statisticj,
appears admirable, and has bren i)roductive of vast ail vantage to tlie fisheries of France."
After a careful examination of the oyster beds and methods of oyster culture in
France and Great Rritain, the Irish Commissioners 5ut;rait(-ed th« following recoramenda-

28

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' 11

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li

t,*i

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f

tions, for the regulation of the Irish oyBter fisheries, to the Loi'd Lieutenant of that island
in 1870 :—

1. "That all regulations with regard to the close time around the Irish coast should
be strictly maintained."

2. " That the Inspectors of Irish fisheries should have power, whenever they deter-
mine to reserve a bank or any portion thereof from public dredging, for the purpose of
recover}', to make such arrangements as may seem desirable for keeping the I'estricoed
part free from weeds and veimin."

3. '* That there should be procumblo at each coastguard station, at a small cost,
general information as to oy,.i,or culture, and simple instructions as to the best mode of
proceeding."

4. " That the Inspectors bo empowered to adopt such othei- means as tliey may deem
necessary, to afford information and instruction to tliose requiring it with respect to oyster
culture."

5. " That having unsizable oysters in [lossession in jilaces where it is prohibited by
any by-law to take oystei-s from any public beds under a certain size, shall be 'prima facie
evidence that such oysters were taken in places so prohibitftd ; such regulation not to
ajjply to private oyster grounds."

6. " That facilities be afford ^ I to the coast population to acquire the use of small
portions of foreshore, or sea bottona, for oyster cultivation, and to obtain loans on
satisfactory security for the preparation of same, and for the purchase of oysters, collec-
tors, &c."

7. " That landed proprietors desirous of cultivating oysters on the shores adjoining
their lands, be empowered to avail themselves of the provisions of the Irish Lond Im-
j)rovement Acts, for the pui'pose of oyster cultivation."

In his " Report on the Cultivation of Oysters by Natural and Artificial Methods,"
published in the Report of the British Association for 1865, Mr. Frank Bucklaud writes :

" The English system is to catch the spat upon oultch, the French to catch it upon
tiles." I have examined both systems, and come to the conclusion that the tiles will
(except under certain favourable circumstances) never beat the cultcb.

" I have been to the Isle of Re, and have seen (through the great kindness of Dr.
Kemmerer) the whole system ; and the long and short of it is this : — For many years the
oyster spat in France was totally neglected, and the inhabitants thought nothing about
turning their beds to profitable account. The learned ])isciculturist, M. Coste, suggesbed
the idea of tiles being i)Iaced down, the idea having, I believe, been first suggested by a
poor mason, M. Boeuf, with whom I have had a long conversation. The tiles, fascines, (fee,
were placed down under the patronage of the Government, and they were picked up
covered with young oysters. The success was pronounced complete, fascines and tiles
were all the rage, and all who had oyster fisheries thought their fortunes were made."

" Tlie fact of the matter is, that the first year these various oyster-catching imple-
ments were laid down happened to be a year famous for an exceedingly heavy fall of spat ;
in other words, a vast majority of the j'oung spat bOrn, lived, thrived, and ultimately
atlhered to whatevei- they could find to adhere to. They found the fascines and tiles, and
covered them as bees cover the boughs of a tree at swai'ming time ; and the idea was at
oikce started that these fascines and tiles were the means, as it were, of creating the
oysters which otherwise would not have been created."

" The first two or three years after these tiles, «kc., were laid down happened to be
good yeai's for the spat living ; but for the last few years the spat has not lived, and the
natural consequence has been that they have not beeir Tound on the tiles in very large
quantities. Oysters, in fact, are just as scarce this year in France, as they are in Eng-
land. If the artificial system, with tiles, had Iteen such a great success, and had the tiles
caught the spat when cultch would not, it would of necessity follow that oysters in France
would have been very cheaj), whereas, in fact, they are qiiite as dear as in England, and
there are so few of them lo Lc liud that French agents are at this moment in this country
buying all they cim get hold of."

29

bat island

ist should

.ey deter-
ui'pose of
restricted

mall coat,
b mode of

nay deem

t to oyster

liibited by
rima facU
ion not to

5 of small

loans on

srs, collec-

I adjoining
Land Im-

Mr. Buckland thinks that the placing of fascines or faggots, for the use of the young
oyster is (to use his own words), " a delusion and a snare." He tells us also that " the
spat seems to prefer adhering to a shell that is partially decayed and softened, mther than
to a new shell recently placed down."

In Canada, oysters exist under somewhat different conditions to what they do in
Europe. So far as we know, they are never found so far out to sea in the Gulf of St. Law-
rence, as they are in many pai-ts of Europe. Very successful results have already been
attained in the cultivation of oysters in the Gulf, by the Hon. Mr. Popo and others, but
I have never hai the good fortune to visit any place where oyster culture is prosecuted.

I should have judged that frost would be a serious obstacle to contend with in this
country, but Mr. Pope seems to think that Canadian oysters are rarely injured by a very
low temperature.

Tlie oyster beds of the Gulf occupy, relatively, but a small area : there are none in
the seas of the Province of Quebec ; none, so far as we know, round the shores of New-
foundland, of the Magdalen Islands, or in the Bay of Fundy.

As we have already seen, what beils there nre have been over -fished, utterly neg-
lected, and in too many cases all but destroyed. W'eie the Govenmieiit to follow the
example set by other countries, and take i)rompt measures for the recuperation, protection,
and fostering of the vahiable oyster and lobster lisliei'ies of the Gulf, there seems to be no
reason why the supply of these important articles of foo.l miglit aot bo increased to a very
large, and perhaps almost unlimiteil extent.

Montreal, March 4th, 1874.

Methods,"
lid writes :
3h it upon
3 tiles will

less of Dr.
f years the
ling about
, suggested
jested by a
seines, <fcc.,
picked up
s and tiles
made."
ling imple-
8 11 of spat ;
ultimately
d tiles, and
idea was at
eating the

tened to be
ed, and the
. very large
re in Eng-
ad the tUes
8 in France
ugland, and
his country

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OTTAWA :

tRINTBp BY I. B. TATLOU, 29, 31 AND JS, RXDEAU STREET

18fl

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