AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1113 



hundred and eighty pounds. The value of the sounds is greater than 

 the hake from which they are taken. 



13. Codfish tongues and sounds are also put up and sold to some ex- 

 tent out of this island and are valuable. 



14. The oil taken from the codfish and hake is of considerable im- 

 portance, and there would be, on an average, about half a gallon, worth 

 twenty-five cents, taken from every quintal of hake and nodfish. 



JAMES H. DAVIDSON. 



Sworn to at North Cape, in Prince County, Prince Edward Island, 

 this 28th day of June, A. D. 1877, before me. 



JOSEPH MAoGILVRAY, 

 J. P. for Prince County, Prince Edward Island. 



No. 15. 



DOMINION OF CANADA, 



Province of Prince Edward Island, Kings County, to wit : 

 I, JOSEPH CAMPBELL, of Souris, in Kings County, in Prince Edward 

 Island, master mariner, make oath and say : 



1. That I have been personally engaged in the fisheries since the year 

 1855. From 1855 to 1858 I was fishing in boats off the north side of 

 the island. We caught all our fish at that time within three miles from 

 the shore. 



2. That from the year 1858 to 1867 I was constantly and actively en- 

 gaged in fishing aboard American vessels, and during that time I fished 

 on all the fish ing- grounds. 



3. We got our first fare generally in the Bay Chaleur. Fully nine- 

 tenths of this fare would be caught close inshore, within the three-mile 

 limits. 



4. The mackerel, after leaving the Bay Chaleur, strike across to the 

 North Cape of Prince Edward Island, and some of them return to the 

 Magdalenes. We generally got our second fare from the north cape of 

 the island to East Point and at the Magdalenes, generally catching the 

 fish within the limits. I would say that fully seven-eighths of this fare 

 is caught within the three-mile limits. 



5. From the year 1863 to 1867 the average number of American ves- 

 sels fishing for mackerel in the gulf would, in my opinion, be about five 

 hundred sail, and during those years the catch was good, averaging 

 abouf six hundred barrels per vessel per season. 



6. From my personal knowledge and actnal observation I would say 

 that fully seven-eighths of that quantity of mackerel were caught in- 

 shore, that is, within three miles from the shore. 



7. Our usual mode was to go in close to the shore ; if in bold water, 

 close up to the rocks, throw our bait and drift off, the mackerel follow- 

 ing after the bait. When we lost the mackerel we again tacked for the 

 shore. 



8. That the American fleets of fishing-vessels very materially injure 

 the boat fishing off shore. The Americans have always made a prac- 

 tice of sailing down among the boats, and by throwing bait and drift- 

 ing off draw the mackerel away with them. This is a very common 

 occurrence, and must have been a great injury to the boat fishing. 



9. I think that the large amount of offal thrown overboard by the 

 fishing fleets has a tendency to injure the fishing. The fish eat up this 

 dirty and poisonous food and they will not then follow or take the bait. 

 In this way this practice must be very hurtful to the fishing-grounds. 



