Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1901 — When Herrings Were Plenty. [ARTICLE]

When Herrings Were Plenty.

In former days herring were so abundant in Newfoundland waters that the most wanton slaughter of them was permitted without any restriction whatever. Seines were allowed to retain 1,000 or 2,000 barrels of the fish until they perished, and then the net was freed and the whole contents fell to the bottom to pollute the ocean for miles around. When a poaching smack was captured the herring It had on board were all thrown into the sea, and frequently boats when chased resorted to the same means to get rid of Incriminating evidence. The fish then fetched only fifty cents a barrel of 500 herring, or 10 for a cent; they se}l now In American cities sometimes for five cents the single fish. Such wanton waste gradually had its effect, and now the colonial fishing laws safeguard the industry more vigilantly, and fishermen of all classes know better how to husband their resources In this connection. Today herring bait usually brings $5 a barrel, and sometimes twice that, and the smuggler who plans to land a cargo at St Pierre contracts for $lO a barrel before h< touches a rope on his boat