HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 143 



mackerel got to be worth having, about everybody adopted menhaden 

 for bait. It is the cheapest bait."* 



The comparative value of herring and menhaden for toll bait 



198. Mr. Sylvanus Smith stated before the Halifax Commission : ''All 

 the bait used iu mackerel fishing consists of menhaden or porgy, which 

 is only found off the coast of the United States, and which the Canadians 

 bought from the American fishermen to a great extent ''t 



Also to the same effect Mr. James G. Tarr: "The only bait used for 

 mackerel is the porgy or menhaden, which is found entirely in the 

 United States, and which all the Canadians have to buy from the Ameri- 

 cans iu a salted state. This fish (the porgy) is not found iu Canadian 

 waters, and is almost the only bait used iu the mackerel fishery ; if the 

 Canadians were unable to procure this bait, they would be compelled to 

 use herring bait, which is much inferior for the purpose. ♦ * * i 

 have known vessels to sail from this port (Gloucester) with as many as 

 300 barrels of porgy bait on board, which was sold in Halifax and the 

 Straits of Canso to Canadian fishermen. * * * The bait which we 

 buy from them for the cod-fishery consists of herring and some small 

 mackerel." t 



John E. Saunders remarked: "Fresh herring is used by Canadians 

 somewhat, but it is an inferior sort of bait, and they much prefer men- 

 haden when they can get it. * * * Canadians import menhaden 

 bait from the United States to some extent ; the menhaden is not found 

 north of Cape Sable." § 



Eichard Hannan, of Gloucester, also stated : "1 have sold menhaden 

 bait to the Canadians, a few barrels each year; they import a great deal 

 of this bait from the United States ; now by the treaty they can come 

 here and catch this bait themselves. To my own knowledge there have 

 been two or three vessels here from Yarmouth and Argyle which came 

 to catch porgies for use in the bay. || 



James G. McKeen, of Port Hastings, Nova Scotia, on the Strait of 

 Canso, stated : " The bait chiefly used by American mackerel-fishing 

 vessels is menhaden or porgies. These fish are taken, I believe, entirely 

 on the coast of the United States, and mostly in seines within three 

 miles of the land, so I have been informed. British mackerel fishermen 

 use the same kind of bait principally, and depend on the United States 

 for the supply. Clams are also used as bait for catching mackerel by 

 both American and Colonial mackerel vessels, and they are obtained 

 chiefly in the United States." jj 



George Critchet, of Middle Milford, Guysboro County, Nova Scotia, 



* N. E. Atwood. Proceedings of Halifax Commission, Appendix L, p. 42, September 

 19, 1877. 

 + Affidavit 34. Proceedings of the Halifax Commission, 1877, Appendix M, p. 81. 

 t Affidavit 36, op. cit., p. 83. 

 $ Affidavit 41, oj;. cit., p. 86. 

 II Affidavit 42, op cit., p. 86. 

 1[ Affidavit 176, op. cit., p. 195. 



