between 1849 and 1852 he wrote several studies on the prospects for the further development of the province’s ocean and river fisheries, a task which saw him travel some 900 miles throughout new brunswick (500 of them by canoe) collecting information and statistics. perley’s findings on these trips were detailed in his "report on the fisheries of the gulf of saint lawrence" (1849), "report on the sea and river fisheries of new brunswick, within the gulf of saint lawrence and bay of chaleur" (1850), and "report upon the fisheries of the bay of fundy" (1851), all of which were compiled in a one-volume omnibus entitled "reports on the sea and river fisheries of new brunswick" (1852). his knowledge of the fishery also meant that he had a commanding influence on the fishery legislation drafted between 1849 and 1852.