1960 NORTH ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES ARBITRATION. 



and fisheries at Ottawa, under date 17th of April, 1890. This gentle- 

 man, who hails from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and who is a member 

 of the Canadian parliament, wrote as follows in respect to the restric- 

 tions which the government of this colony had placed on Canadian 

 vessels visiting our shores for bait in that year: 'Our men are in 

 terrible straits to know what to do under these circumstances, as 

 their bait for the Grand Bank for our summer trip is almost wholly 

 obtained on the south side of Newfoundland. The Grand Bank has 

 been the summer resort of our fishermen for many years, and from 

 various bays on the south coast of Newfoundland their supply of 

 bait has been drawn, these being much less of distance and a greater 

 certainty of bait than Canadian waters. We have hitherto enjoyed 

 the privilege of obtaining bait in Newfoundland to the fullest extent, 

 paying only such internal fees and taxes as were proper. The result 

 of the action of the Newfoundland government will be most dis- 

 astrous, and one season alone will prove its dire effects on the fishing 

 fleet of Nova Scotia and the shipyards now also so busy and 

 prosperous.' " 



It is after that that Sir Robert Bond made his declaration: 



" This communication is important evidence as to the value of the 

 position we occupy as mistress of the northern seas so far as the 

 fisheries are concerned. Herein was evidence that it is within the 

 power of the legislature of this colony to make or mar our com- 

 petitors to the North Atlantic fisheries. Here was evidence that by 

 refusing or restricting the necessary bait supply we can bring our 

 foreign competitors to realize their dependence upon us." 



This record is full of reports and correspondence showing that the 

 French had for their bank fishery depended upon the procurement of 

 bait in Newfoundland, and disclosing attempts by the Newfound- 

 landers to prevent the French from getting it, with the constant 

 prohibition on the part of the Government of Great Britain, which 

 regarded the effect that it would have upon her relations with her 

 neighbour across the Channel to cut off such an important supply. 



Of course there is also an element of value in this fishery, in the 

 cod-fishing on the coast of Labrador, which is a very great fishery; 

 and for that bait is necessary for the Americans. The Newfound- 

 landers carry on trap fishing there. They are on shore, and they run 

 their traps out. But our fishermen use bait; they use a bultow. 

 Then there is, of course, the cod-fishing on the south coast, as Sir 

 James Winter has told the Tribunal. There is also the winter 

 herring fishery, which has a relation to the bank fishery in this: 

 The bank fishery is a summer fishery. The ships leave the Massa- 

 chusetts and Maine coasts at the very end of winter, the beginning 

 of spring, the last of February or the first of March; and they go 

 up to the banks, take as many fish as they can with the bait that they 

 can carry and keep, and then they go to the nearest point to get bait, 

 and back to the banks. When they hare exhausted the supply of bait, 

 which is limited not merely by carrying capacity, but by keeping 



