The Sea-Cow Fishery.
HE TERM "Sea-Cow Fishery" has anything but a familiar sound to men of the present day. It may be doubted if, in the Maritime Provinces, there are any now living who can remember a time when this industry was prosecuted. Yet, at one time, the sea-cow abounded in our waters and the fishery, if such it can be called, was of much importance, of so much as to claim the attention of the home government and to call for special local legislation for its regulation and preservation. Unfortunately that legislation failed in its object. The sea-cow has long ceased to frequent these waters. In its time the fishery was actively followed. The unwieldy animals were of considerable value to the early settlers of this island, as also to those on the coasts of the mainland.
After the formation of this island into a separate government, legislation affecting the sea-cow fishery was enacted, almost at once. Walter Patterson, our first governor, when leaving London to take up his residence here, received particular instructions, to enquire into the method of conducting this industry. In fact it appears to have engrossed more attention, in official circles, than any of what we are accustomed to consider our principal fisheries. Oysters, lobsters, not to mention codfish, mackerel, and other deep sea-fish, seem not to have been "in it" with the sea-cow.
Patterson only arrived in Charlottetown on August 30th, 1770, but he lost no time in investigating the
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