168 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



V.— POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



MEMORANDUM OF POINTS ATTEMPTED TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE 

 CASE FOR GREAT BRITAIN, BY GEORGE M'KENZIE AND OTHERS. 



Mackerel. — Mackerel keep close to the shore. All mackerel fishing, 

 therefore, must be near shore, within the three-mile line. 



The proportion of mackerel taken outside this line, usually one-third 

 or less of the catch. 



The American average catch of fish, six or seven hundred barrels. 



Shrimps and small fry are the food of the mackerel. Not found out 

 at sea, but close inshore. 



Americans pay no attention to the three-mile line, after the abroga- 

 tion of the reciprocity treaty, keeping outside only when cruisers were 

 in sight, and returning when they went away. 



The universal testimony of the Americans is that unless permitted to 

 fish within the three-mile line, it would not pay to come into the bay. 



According to their own statements two-thirds and even more of their 

 catch are always taken within the three-mile line. 



Seining for mackerel will soon clean out the fisheries of the Gulf of 

 Saint Lawrence. 



The presence of Americans is injurious to the body of the fishermen 

 of the Dominion. 



Would be willing to pay the whole duty imposed by the United States, 

 and even more, if Americans could be kept entirely outside of the three- 

 mile line ; the Dominion catch would be much greater. 



Gurry. — Throwing gurry overboard drives the fish away. This prac- 

 tice is exclusively American. Dominion fishermen clean their fish on 

 shore. 



Transhipping is a benefit to the Americans, enabling them to make 

 more trips in the same time. 



No Domiuiou fisherman ever goes to American waters in a British 

 vessel to fish. Reason (according to McKenzie, p. 121), the Americans 

 would run them off. 



Americans tranship at Charlottetown and the Gut of Canso. 



Codfish (Thomas Bennet, Newfoundland, p. 134). — The cod fishery 

 on the coast of Newfoundland is entirely inshore. 



Americans obtained bait illegally on the coast of Newfoundland be- 

 fore the Washington treaty. 



Newfoundland has reaped no benefit from the Washington treaty; the 

 exports to the United States are lower than when there was a heavy 

 duty on Newfoundland products. 



The amount exported to the United States is too trifling to have any 

 appreciable effect on the commerce of Newfoundland. 



Americans fishing off the Newfoundland banks derive a great profit 

 by selling the small fish, under 22 inches, in the Newfoundland markets. 



