1170 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



been on a fishing-voyage on the United States coasts. I don't know 

 whether United States fishermen have sold any small fish or other fish- 

 ery produce in this neighborhood. 



About thirty American vessels frequent Fortune Bay in winter for her- 

 rings ; they purchase these herrings from the residents, and never catch 

 them for themselves. The halibut-fishery followed by the United States 

 fishing-vessels about Pass Island has been abandoned during late years. 

 I have not heard of American fishing- vessels trying to catch fish on the 

 Newfoundland inshore-fishery. American fishing-vessels do refit in this 

 neighborhood when required. I consider that the system followed of 

 barring large quantities of herrings for sale to the Americans does inter- 

 fere injuriously with the supply of bait for our local fishermen ; the 

 spawning of the herring is thus affected, which cannot act otherwise 

 than hurtful to the supply for local purposes. I am of opinion that the 

 supply of fresh bait to the United States fishermen who line the Banks 

 off our coasts therewith, prevents the fish passing into our fishing- 

 grounds, and thus injuriously affects the catch of our people. 



I am of opinion that the short catch of codfish on our southwestern 

 coasts this summer has been caused by the United States fishing- vessels 

 fishing on the outer Banks. I can attribute the short catch to no other 

 cause. I know the fish is not on the shores, else it would be caught, as 

 there are all sorts of contrivances for catching fish. 



There are conveniences for the supply of ice for preserving bait in this 

 bay ; I know of six ice-houses. The United States fishermen avail of 

 such ice for preservation of their fresh bait, but to what extent I cannot 

 say. 



The American fishing- vessels bait in this bay four and five times every 

 summer about a fortnight between each baiting. 



his 



JOHN + EVANS, 

 mark. 



Sworn before me, at English Harbor W, Newfoundland, November 8, 

 1876. 



J. O. ERASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 

 No. 56. 



JOHN ROSE, aged forty-four years, fisherman, residing at Belloram, 

 Fortune Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



I am acquainted with the fisheries of Newfoundland, having prose- 

 cuted the same for upward of twenty years. American fishing-vessels 

 have been observed by me in this neighborhood. About forty American 

 fishing- vessels have been baited hereabouts the past season by our fish- 

 ermen. Over a dozen American vessels were loaded with salt herrings, 

 and over thirty were loaded with frozen herrings. I did not see one half 

 the American fishing-vessels that I ani well informed visited this bay 

 for bait. Among the vessels seen by me I can name the following : W. 

 P. Whitman, W. E. McDonald, Grace L. Fears, Moro Castle, Magic, 

 Eben Parsons, Eptstar (Grant), schooner over 100 tons (Hodgeson, 

 master), Moses Adams, Reporter, schooner (Win. Collins, master), Ruth 

 Grove, Frank Butler, M. L. Wetherall, Mary Carlisle, Bellerophou, and 

 Carry S. Doyle, of Gloucester; Thomas Rye, about Provincetown; 

 Serene, about Proviucetown ; schooner (Isaac, master). I have sold bait 

 to several of these American fishing- vessels, but cannot say how much; 

 the price paid for herrings generally is one dollar per barrel. 



Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish in this bay within three miles 



