DOMINION OF CANADA SIXTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FISHERIES BRANCH Department of Marine and Fisheries FOR THE YEAR 1926-27 OTTAWA F. A. ACLAND PRLNTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1927 1 To His Excellency the Right Honourable Viscount Willingdon, G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., G.B.E., Governor General and Commander in Chief of the Dominion of Canada. 11/TAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY : I have the honour to submit herewith, for the information of your Excel- lency and the Parliament of Canada, the Sixtieth Annual Report of the Fisheries Branch of the Department of Marine and Fisheries. I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, P. J. ARTHUR CARDIN, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. DEPARTMENT OF MARINE AND FISHERIES, OTTAWA, August, 1927. t6122-li CONTENTS PAGE Deputy Minister's Report covering- Review of the Fisheries of 1926 5 Operation of the Fish Inspection Act 8 Inspection of Canneries and Canned Fish 9 Fisheries Intelligence Service 9 Fishing Bounty 9 Fish Culture 11 North American Committee of Fisheries Investigation 13 International Fisheries Commission 15 Marine Biological Board 16 Oyster and Scallop Investigations 17 APPENDICES 1. Reports of Inspectors of Fisheries 18 2. Report on Activities of Marine Biological Board 81 3. Report on Oyster and Scallop Investigations 94 4. Fishways and Removal of Obstructions 103 5. Fisheries Expenditure and Revenue 108 6. Entries of United States Fishing Vessels 118 7. Sumrnary of Licenses Issued 122 d DPUTY MINISTER'S REPORT To the Hon. P. J. A. CARDIN, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Sm,—I have the honour to submit the Sixtieth Annual Report of the Fish- eries Branch of the Department, which is for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1927. The report deals with the following subjects:— Review of the Fisheries of 1926. Operation of the Fish Inspection Act. The Inspection of Canneries and Canned Fish. Fisheries Intelligence Service.. Fishing Bounty. Fish Culture. North American Committee on Fisheries Investigation. International Fisheries Commission. Marine Biological Board. Oyster and Scallop Investigations. Appendices to the report include the following:— Report of Inspectors of Fisheries. Report on Activities of Marine Biological Board. Report on Oyster and Scallop Investigations. Fishways and Removal of Obstructions. Fisheries Expenditure and Revenue. Entries of United States Fishing Vessels. Summary of Licenses Issued. REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES OF 1926 The production of fish and fish products during the year under review was considerably greater than during 1925, while the marketed value was greater by some $8,418,502, the value being $56,360,633. The latter value has only been exceeded twice in the history of the industry, and then during the war years when prices were much higher than at present. The following table shows the marketed value by provinces, as compared with the years 1925 and 1924:— — 1926 1925 1924 8 s 8 Nova Scotia 12,505,922 10,213,687 8,777,251 New Brunswick 5,325,478 4,798,589 5,383,286 Prince Edward Island 1,358,934 1,598,119 1,201,772 Quebec 3,110,964 3,044,919 2,283,314 Ontario 3,152,193 3,436,412 3,557,587 Manitoba 2,328,803 1,466,939 1,232,563 Saskatchewan 444,288 479,645 482,492 Alberta 749,026 458,504 339,107 British Columbia 27,367,109 22,414,618 21,257,567 Yukon Territory 17,866 15,370 18,773 56,360,633 47,926,802 44,534,235 5 6 MARINE AND FISHERIES The province of Nova Scotia shows an increase in value of over two and a quarter million dollars. The fisheries of this province expanded remarkably during the year, due to increased demands, both in Canada and abroad, especially in the fresh fish industry. During the summer months there was an increase in the catch of over 50,000,000 pounds. Fifteen new vessels virere built for the industry during the year. There were increases in the catch of haddock, pollock, herring, sardines, alewives, smelts and tom cod in the province of New Brunswick, which accounts for the increase in value. - The province of Prince Edward Island recorded a decrease in the value of the fisheries. This was due to lower catches of cod, smelts and lobsters, three of the chief fisheries of the province. In the province of Quebec the value and production was about the same as in the previous year. Smaller catches of cod and mackerel veere offset by slightly higher catches of herring, salmon and lobsters. The province of Ontario shows a drop in the value with decreases in the production of whitefish, pickerel and pike. There was a splendid increase in production in the province of Manitoba, practically all kinds of fish being taken in larger quantities. Saskatchewan reports a slight decrease, while in Alberta the production and value were higher. In the Pacific Division, which comprises the province of British Columbia, there was an increase in the production of salmon, which mainly accounts for an increase of nearly five million dollars in the value of the fisheries of that division. ATLANTIC cOAsT Cod, Haddock, Hake and Pollock.—The•catch of these kinds was 3,425,544 cwts. This is an increase over the catch of 1925 of 553,213 cwts. Each kind shows an increase in the province of Nova Scotia, with cod showing an increase of over 450,000 cwts. The catches of haddock and pollock were greater in New Brunswick, while there were decreases recorded in the other two varieties. Prince Edward Island and Quebec showed decreases in the catch of both cod and hake. Of the total catch there were 439,281 cw-ts. used fresh (including fresh fillets). This is an increase of 127,923 ces, over the quantity s,old in the same manner in the previous year. There were 151,357 cwts. of smoked (includ- ing smoked fillets) prepared, as compared with 103,116 cwts. in 1925. The Lunenburg banking fleet landed some 372,000 qts. of cod. The fleet during 1926 comprised 92 vessels, which was 12 more than in 1925. The price received for their product was considerably less than for the 1925 catch. Eleven steam trawlers operated out of Nova Scotia.n ports during the year. Mackerel, Herring and Sardines.—There were 1,531,399 cwts. of these fish landed, compared with 1,428,155 cwts. during 1925, or an increase of 103,244 cwts. The catch of herring in Nova Scotia was some 58,000 cwts. greater than the year before. The catch was about the same in Prince Edward Island, while in New Brunswick and Quebec there were increases of 50,000 cwts. and 39,000 cwts. respectively. The quantity of herring smoked was 133,163 cwts., which was an increase of 43,219 cwts. The catch of mackerel was only 115,487 cwts., compared with 187,661 in 1925. Owing to the condition of the American market, which was practically glutted with these fish, the demand for mackerel was small and, therefore, the fishery was prosecuted only in an indifferent manner. There were 173,166 barrels of sardines taken, compared with 158,533 barrels during the previous year. These fish were very plentiful but the demand, which FISHERIES BRANCH 7 comes mainly from the American canneries, was very limited. Consequently not nearly as many were taken as might have been. The pack of these fish locally was the largest in the history of the industry. Other Sea Fish.-The catch of halibut was 24,823 cwts. which is an increase of 3,000 cwts. over the previous year. There were 12,935 cwts. of swordfish taken, which is nearly three times the quantity taken in 1925. The catch of tom cod was 20,239 cwts. and of flounders 15,798 cwts., both an increase over the previous year. Shellfish.-There were 339,583 cwts. of lobsters taken, which is a slight decrease of 1,255 cwt.s. The catch and its disposal by provinces, as compared with the same period for the year 1925, was as follows:- - Catch Marketed Canned Shell 1926 Cwts. Cwts. Cases Nova Scotia 184,316 71,443 56,277 New Brunsw ick 59,611 15,861 24,041 Prince Edwa rd Island 66,298 3,153 29,442 Quebec 29,358 847 13,759 1925 ,... Nova Scotia 170,698 63,525 53,745 New Brunsw ick 65,894 10,991 27,236 Prince Edwa rd Island 78,570 10,272 34,121 Quebec 25,676 1,313 12,395 There were 19,898 barrels of oysters taken, compared with 19,960 barrels in 1925. The quantity of clams and quahaugs dug was 41,417 barrels, which was an increase of 12,958 barrels. Scallops also show an increase, there being some 23,200 barrels taken compared with 17,718 barrels. River Spawning Fish.-There were 52,795 cwts. of salmon taken, which is a slight drop from - the previous -year. Some 90,481 cwts. of smelts were taken, compared with 75,457 cwts. in 1925. Of the total catch for 1926 New Brunswick contributed 59,400 cwts., which was an increase of nearly 13,000 cwts. The catch of alewives again shows a big increase, some 71,479 cw-ts. being landed while in 1925 there were only 56,781 cwts. The quantity landed in Nova Scotia was less, while in New Brunswick there was a large increase. About half of the catch was salted. INLAND FISHERIES There was an increase in the catch of whitefish of 3,964 cwts., some 190,- 644 cwts.