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In 1967 it was 12,927,521 pounds. In other words it went from one million pounds in 1.062 to thirteen million pounds in 1067, Mr. Speaker, and we’ve only scratched the surface because this drying plant was only in operation for about ten days, I believe it was. Is that right, Honourable Minister? About ten days? So you can see the grtat potential for the moss industry which we have in the Eastern end of the Island. These are Kings County figures and I suppose this House, Mr. Speaker, and all our Honourable Members would be interested in knowing the landings of the moss in it’s entirety for the whole Province. We landed in 1067, 47,026,761 lbs. or approximately 48,000,000. In 1062 we had landed 17,000,000. In other words, in the five years the Island landings have gone up about two and a half times or a little better whereas the moss landings in Kings County has increased by 13 times. We have great potential there for the moss industry and along with that we have two particular types of moss. We have what they call the Irish Moss and we have the fusilarium and I would like to throw out a little word of caution to those who are in the habit of raking fusilarium because the research has told us that when fusilarium is raked it doesn’t grow again because the base of it is small and once broken off the rock it doesn’t grow any more, different from Irish Moss.

Unknown Voice: What is the value?

Bruce L. Stewart: The value of the moss for the Island in 1067 was $2,542,- 001. The amount of the landings of Irish Moss in Kings County was $237,062. 1 have a correction on the total amount for 11.67 for the Island. A correction on this, Mr. Speaker, the total amount of Irish Moss on the Island was $1,215,897 but the total amount landed in Kings County was $237,062. What about our (lrag‘ger busi- ness in Souris? It has also been successful up to a point but We all know about “the depressed fish markets as well and I think that we must assess, not only the fish industry in Souris, Mr. Speaker, but we must assess the fish industry across this Island as to what it’s worth to us because in Souris last year we had three hundred people employed in two filleting- plants. The payroll in Souris last year. or during 1067, was $600,000. The fish which were landed at dock side in that port was $750,000 which meant that about approximately one half of this, or $375,000, found it’s way into the pockets of the fishermen. The rest was in plant operation and so forth. We were happy to see two rather new methods of catching ground fish was locked into last year in our area known as Scotch seining. Scotch seining- is a new method of catching fish. It is a method that was developed in Scotland and was brought out to this country last year and it was discovered that it looks as if it is well worth consideration because they’re able to bring in more quantity with less cost and that’s exactly what we’re going to be required to do if the fish industry is going to stay healthy and stay in business. That however, is still groinp: through the research stage but it is hoped that we will have a boat or two Scotch seining next year in order to take advantage of the knowledge which we have learned dur- ing the past year. Scallop beds were discovered in commercial quantity off Souris last year which again added some revenue to our industry in that particular area. Now, Mr. Speaker, I realize that we have Ministers here in all Departments of Government. We have a Minister of Fisheries here who has co-operated with us in our area and has promoted industry, good sound industry in our area in the past couple of years and to him we’re most grateful. We also have, of course, in our area, our Minister of Agriculture who needs nothing from me to be said about him because he’s making a terrific job, Mr. Speaker, in carrying out the duties of his portfolio. Our Highway program is progressing and we were happy when the Hon- ourable Minister of Highways told us the other day that already part of the road from Charlottetown to Souris has already been let for an all-weather highway. I can go on, Mr. Speaker, but I know that the Ministers in all these various Depart- ments will be able to relate to you what has transpired through their departments during the past year and I feel that they can do it so much better than I because they’re right there working at these problems every day. Mr. Speaker. I thank you for this opportunity of being able to address this Legislative Assembly and I wish our Premier and all of his Cabinet all the success which it’s going to require to bring us through these days, through troublesome times. I thank you very much. (Applause)

Robert A. Grindlay (Second Prince): Mr. Speaker, in rising to speak on this motion I realize that what I say is for the record, written in to the record, but most of

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