BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHEB CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 533 



the amount of capital thus invested, the employment afforded, the 

 trade and industry thereby promoted, and the necessary food sup- 

 plied will be justly regarded oy the Commission as forming material 

 elements in the calculation of probable benefits derived by the Ameri- 

 can nation ; but as it is desirable to refer to such specific data as may 

 fairly establish the equitable foundation and practical character of 

 the present claim, we propose to show, by such evidence as the case 

 admits 



(1) The number of United States fishing- vessels frequenting these 

 waters ; 



(2) The kinds and quantities of fish it is customary for them to 

 take, and the profits accruing to them thereby ; 



(3) The amount of capital embarked in these operations, and 

 other advantages accruing to United States citizens thereby; 



First. The official records of the United States Government show 

 that in 1868 the " enrolled and licensed " vessels engaged in the cod 

 and mackerel fisheries numbered 2,220; in 1869 there were 1,714 ves- 

 sels so employed ; in 1870 their numbers were 2,292 ; in 1871 there were 

 2,426 vessels thus engaged; and in 1872 there were 2,385. 



The classification of decked fishing-vessels in the United States is 

 confined nominally to the cod and mackerel fisheries, but no doubt in- 

 cludes such vessels as embark also in the herring, halibut, haddock, 

 hake, pollack, and bait fisheries on the coasts of Canada. There are 

 certainly fluctuations from year to year in the number of vessels en- 

 gaged, as well as in the success of their respective voyages, but there is a 

 remarkable concurrence in the statements made by various informants 

 that an average number, ranging between 700 and 1,200 of the United 

 States vessels have annually resorted to British waters for fishing 

 purposes for many years past. 



These vessels are variously occupied on the shores of Canada 

 throughout each season. Some of them resort to the Gulf of Saint 

 Lawrence from early spring-time to late autumn in pursuit of cod, 

 mackerel, herrings, and halibut. Others frequent the western coast 

 of Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy throughout the season. Dur- 

 ing the existence of the Eeciprocity Treaty, when free access was 

 afforded to British waters, it was admitted by an American authority, 

 Mr. E. H. Derby, that about 600 of these vessels fished every year 

 for mackerel alone on the gulf coasts of Canada ; and it is probable 

 that as many more fished along the Atlantic coasts of Canada, and 

 also on the banks and ledges off shore. Captain Scott, R. N., com- 

 manding the marine police, and Captain Nickerson, of the same 

 force, both state that as many as 1,200 United States fishing-vessels 

 have been known to pass through the Gut of Canso in a single season. 

 Inspector Yenning states that during the existence of the Reciprocity 

 Treaty the annual number was from 1,200 to 1,500. The executive 

 council of Prince Edward Island, in a minute dated 17th February, 

 1874, states that 1,000 sail of United States vessels were engaged in 

 the mackerel fishery alone in the year 1872. The former commander 

 of the government cruiser La Canadienne, in his report for 1865, 

 estimates that there were in that year from 1,050 to 1,200 American 

 vessels engaged exclusively in the mackerel fishery of the Gulf of 

 Saint Lawrence. Subsequently, in 1866, the actual number of United 

 States vessels duly licensed by the Canadian Government, on passing 

 through the Gut of Canso for the inshore mackerel fisheries^ was 



