1156 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



till about tbe last of September, although tbey are often cangbt as late 

 as December. Tbe mackerel stop here till December, but the weather 

 gets too blustery to go off for tliera. 



15. That in the spring the mackerel are first caught at the Magdalen 

 Islands, where they are caught in nets by the Nova Scotians and Amer- 

 icans. The mackerel strike the Magdalen Islands about the first of 

 June, right after the herring leave. I think they always come to the 

 Magdaleus round Cape North. The mackerel don't stop there long, but 

 strike for the North Cape of this island, and from there they make over 

 for the New Brunswick coast, and about the month of August they work 

 back southward again. This general habit ot the mackerel is well known 

 to fishermen, and the American fishermen know the habit first rate. 

 When the mackerel strike off for this island the American schooners 

 never wait along the bight of this island but press up toward the North 

 Cape, and Miscou, and Mira, and generally along the west coast of New 

 Brunswick, and up as far as Seven Islands above Anticosti, as their 

 experience has taught them that that is the quarter where the fish are 

 to be found first. Later on in August and September they come back 

 into the bight of this island, and that is the time they interfere with the 

 boats. Nearly all the fish caught during these times are caught near 

 the shores of the British possessions, although there are some American 

 vessels which fished entirely in deep water away from the land, but 

 these are comparatively few. Some of the Americans used to be afraid 

 to fish near the shore through fear of the cutters. 



16. That it would not be worth while for the American fishing schoon- 

 ers to fit out for fishing in the gulf, if they were not allowed to fish near 

 the shores. They might as well stop at home. 



17. That at the present time about four hundred sail of American cod- 

 fishing vessels tit out on the British coasts from Cape Sable in the 

 southern part of Nova Scotia, round to Cape North. They take in bait 

 and ice for the trawl or set-line fishing on the Banks off the. Nova Scotia 

 and Newfoundland coasts. They could not carry on this cod fishery 

 unless they could get their ice and bait on British territory. They could 

 not bring the bait from home with them, as the distance is too great 

 and tbey could not get fresh herring at home. They also get their ice 

 cheaper and better on our shores than they can buy it in Boston. 



18. That the right of transshipment is a very great privilege to the 

 Americans. By it they are enabled to make a trip more in the season 

 than they could if they had to take their fish home in their own vessels ; 

 they save a fortnight each trip by having this right. They can also tit 

 out here cheaper than they can at home, which in itself is a great advan- 

 tage to them. They can also put their fish into the markets without 

 delay, when tbey are able to transship them in our ports, and thus take 

 advantage of high prices in the fish-market, which is about the most 

 fluctuating market in the world. The vessels can land even, partial 

 cargoes, and ship them on to the United States and sell them " to arrive," 

 which is a very great thing for the fishermen. The fish also gjt worse 

 the longer they are kept on board the vessels ; they fail that is, they get 

 light, and are apt to rust owing to the barrels leaking the pickle j in fact 

 they get to look worse, and are worse, and command a lower price the 

 longer they are kept on board the vessel. They also get knocked about 

 by the tossing of the vessels. 



19. That there is a great deal of herring-fishing done by the Ameri- 

 cans in the winter at Boone Bay, Bay Fortune, and at other places on 

 the coast of Newfoundland. These herring are caught for pickling and 

 for bait, and quantities are frozen to send down to Boston and other 



