664 APPENDIX TO BRITISH CASE. 



before the positive period of ten years had expired, but it could not 

 be accomplished. 



From the investigations made by the committee during the last 

 summer and fall, and as the result of the great mass of testimony 

 taken by it and herewith returned, the committee believe it to be 

 clear, beyond all dispute, that the right to fish within 3 miles of the 

 Dominion shores is of no practical advantage whatever to American 

 fishermen. The cod and halibut fishing has been for many years 

 almost entirely carried on at long distances from the shores, in the 

 deep waters, on banks, &c. ; and it is believed that were there absolute 

 liberty for Americans to fish, without restriction or regulation of any 

 kind, within 3 miles of the Dominion shores, no such fishermen would 

 ever think of going there for the purpose of catching cod or halibut. 



As regards the obtaining of bait for this class of fishing, the testi- 

 mony taken by the committee in its enquiries clearly demonstrates 

 that there is no necessity whatever for American fishermen to resort 

 to Canadian waters for that purpose. Clam bait is found in im- 

 mense quantities in our own waters, and there have been instances, so 

 frequent and continuous as to amount to a habit, of the Canadians 

 themselves resorting to American waters or ports for the purpose of 

 obtaining it. The squid bait is found on the very banks where the 

 fishing goes on. So that the instances would be extremely rare when 

 any American fishing- vessel would wish to resort to a Dominion port 

 for the purpose of buying bait for this kind of fishing. 



It was also proved before the committee that, with the rarest excep- 

 tion, it would be absolutely injurious to the pecuniary interests of all 

 concerned for American vessels to resort to Dominion ports or waters, 

 except in need or distress, for the time taken in such departures from 

 the cod and halibut grounds, or from direct sailing to and from them, 

 is so great, that with or without the difference of port expenses, time 

 and money are both lost in such visits. 



In respect of the mackerel fishery the committee finds, as will be 

 seen from the evidence referred to, that its course and methods have 

 of late years entirely changed. While it used to be carried on by 

 vessels fishing with hook and line, and sometimes near the shores, it 

 is now almost entirely carried on by the use of immense seines, called 

 purse-seines, of great length and descending many fathoms into the 

 water. This gear is very expensive, and a fishing vessel does not 

 usually carry more than one or two. The danger of fishing near the 

 shore with such seines is so great, on account of striking rocks and 

 reefs, that it is regraded as extremely hazardous ever to undertake it. 

 Besides this, the large schools of mackerel, to the taking of which 

 this great apparatus is best adapted, are almost always found more 

 than 3 miles from land, either in great bays and gulfs, or entirely 

 out At sea. 



There will be found accompanying this report (see Appendix) 

 statements showing the total catch of mackerel during certain years, 

 and the parts of the seas where they have been taken; and it will 

 also be seen from the evidence that in general the mackerel fisheries 

 by Americans in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and in the Bay of 

 Chaleur have not been remunerative. 



In view of all these facts, well known to the great body of the citi- 

 zens of the United States engaged in fisheries, and embracing every 

 variety of interest connected therewith, from the wholesale dealer, 



