556 MISCELLANEOUS 



Q. How far from the shore ? A. On the shore ; all the fish are near 

 the shore. 



Q. Have they landed during and since 1854? A. They have always 

 pursued the same manner of fishing. 



Q. And landed? A. Yes. 



Q. Could they take the fish in seines near the shore without land- 

 ing? A. Not about our way. 



Q. As a matter of fact, do they ever seine except from the shore ? 

 A. They fish with purse seines outside. 



Q. But as a matter of fact, do they seine within the three mile limit 

 except from the shore? A. No. 



Q. They seine from the shore altogether? A. Yes. 



Q. Before the ratification of the Treaty of Washington, whenever 

 they took fish inshore, what did they do with them? A. The seines 

 were hauled near the shore; the boats were loaded from the seine, 

 and the fish were taken on board the vessel, where they were, salted. 



Q. They did not take the fish from the shore themselves ? A. The 

 seine is hauled to the shore. 



Q. And the boats are brought alongside and the fish are dipped 

 out of it? A. Yes, they are then put on board, salted on deck, and 

 put down in bulk. 



Q. You are now speaking of herring? A. Yes. A few vessels 

 came to Pleasant Bay for mackerel in 1852 and 1854, and fished with 

 nets; but this practice was then discontinued until within the last 

 few years. 



Q. Has there not been mackerel fishing within three miles of the 

 shore around the islands from 1854 up to the present time? A. O, 

 yes, they come quite inshore occasionally; and when this is the case, 

 the vessels come and generally anchor with our boats. 



******* 



No. 14.] MONDAY, August 13, 1877. 



The conference met. 



******* 



No. 15.] 



THOMAS E. BENNETT, 47 years of age, judge of the district 

 court at Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, was called on behalf of the 

 Government of Her Britannic Majesty, sworn and examined. 



By Mr. WHITEWAY : 



Question. How long have you resided in Newfoundland ? Answer. 

 Since 1854. 



Q. Have you a thorough knowledge of the fisheries of that 

 island ? A. I have an intimate knowledge of them. 



Q. How did you obtain it ? A. For many years I was engaged in 

 mercantile business in connection with these fisheries. 



Q. Both on the Southern coast and the Eastern coast? A. Not 

 on the Eastern. The coast in the District of Fortune Bay is usually 

 spoken of in Newfoundland as the Western coast. I merely mention 

 it in order that I may be understood if I make use of the expression 

 afterwards. 



Q. As a matter of fact, however, it is the Southern coast ? A. Yes. 



