1168 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



dred; there are vessels fitted out from other ports in the United States 

 besides Gloucester, but not to so large an extent. The average catch 

 per vessel on the Banks will be two thousand five hundred quintals 

 codfish, the value of which will be about twelve thousand dollars to the 

 owner. 



The result of my last year's operations is as follows: 



Total catch, thirty-seven hundred quintals for the season three bank- 

 ing trips ; value thereof, about seventeen thousand dollars ; expenses of 

 wages, crew's share of voyage, outfit, and provisions was about twelve 

 thousand dollars; leaving a clear profit to the owner of about five thou- 

 sand dollars. The owner derives a considerable profit also from the 

 difference between the prices he allows the crews for their share of fish 

 and what it is worth to him in the market, by which he would gain on 

 the quantity above stated about eighteen hundred dollars. The owner, 

 in my case above cited, settled with the crew at two dollars and seventy- 

 five cents per quintal as weighed out of the vessel, the market value of 

 which fish when cured was four dollars eighty cents per quintal the 

 loss in weight, which is very trifling, and labor in curing would not cost 

 more than one dollar per quintal. Each United States fishing-vessel 

 will make from three to five trips to the Newfoundland coast for bait 

 during the season. Each vessel takes from sixty to eighty barrels of 

 the bait in season per bait trip. At the time when caplin first strike 

 the shores of Newfoundland there is no bait equal to it in the quantity 

 of fish taken by it, and this bait is peculiar to Newfoundland. Capliu 

 keep longer fresh in ice than any other bait we know of. 



During the last three years there has been a marked scarcity of squid 

 on the Great Banks, where formerly an ample supply of squid was pro- 

 cured for baiting purposes, but latterly has been found wholly insuffi- 

 cient, and consequently the importance of having Newfoundland as a 

 basis for bait supply is materially enhanced. 



In illustration of the result of a season's Bank-fishery operations in 

 two vessels similarly outfitted and alike in all respects, both fitting out 

 from Gloucester, one having the privileges conferred by the Washington 

 Treaty, the other without these privileges, I am of opinion that the 

 latter would only accomplish one voyage or trip during the season, 

 whilst the former would accomplish three voyages or trips. I am gen- 

 erally well acquainted with the bait supply" along the Newfoundland 

 coasts, and know that there has always been procured a sufficiency for 

 the purposes of United States fishing vessels, and ice can always be 

 obtained along the coast. 



I know of two United States vessels that fished for codfish inside the 

 Keys, St. Mary's, that is on the inshore ground. I fished there myself. 



WM. H. MOLLOY. 



Sworn before me, at St. John's, N. K, this 24th of May, 1877. 



J. O. ERASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 54. 



GEORGE ROSE, aged 54 years, maketh oath and saith, that he resides 

 at Little Bay. in Fortune Bay, fisherman. I have become acquainted 

 with the Newfoundland fisheries by following the same for forty years. 



I have observed United States fishing vessels in this neighborhood ; 

 about twenty this year. Among these I can name W. J. Sawyer, John 

 Archard, master, of Southport, U. S. A.; another commanded by Cap- 

 tain McDonald j another, the Gettysburg, Robert Grant, master; the 



