AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1171 



of the shore; the Newfoundland fisheries are all inshore except the seal 

 fishery. Caplin, herrings, and squids are taken in the coves close to 

 the shore. No Newfoundland vessels that I have heard tell of or know 

 anything about, go fishing on any of the coasts of the United States of 

 America inshore. American fishermen have this year sold what they 

 call small codfish to our people, who did not consider such fish small. I 

 am not informed as to what quantity was sold and purchased, nor what 

 prices were paid. 



American fishing- vessels are accustomed to refit in this neighborhood 

 when necessary. There are between 250 and 300 schooners catching 

 bait in this bay to supply French bankers at St. Pierre ; the average 

 quantity of bait supplied by each schooner would be about one hundred 

 barrels herrings ; they frequently have 400 and 500, and they make each 

 from two to four trips. The quantity of caplin supplied to the French 

 6y the schooners referred to by me would be about two hundred hhds. 

 for each schooner. The price paid for herrings thus supplied the French 

 varies from two to thirty francs per barrel, ten francs being a fair aver- 

 age; for caplin, the average would be about ten francs per hhd. There 

 are in this neighborhood great conveniences for preserving ice, which 

 abounds on the ponds close to the salt water ; five such ice-houses are 

 erected in this bay which are used to preserve ice for sale to American 

 fishermen, who largely avail of the same for the preservation of fresh 

 bait purchased from our fishermen. The number of American fishermen 

 frequenting these quarters we expect will be largely increased. 



JOHN ROSE. 



Sworn before me, at Belloram, this sixth day of November, A. D. 1876. 



J. O. FRASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 

 No. 57. 



PHILIP HUBERT, aged 40 years, subcollector H. M. customs, residing 

 at Harbor Breton, Newfoundland, inaketh oath and saith : That I have 

 become acquainted with the Newfoundland fisheries by a residence in 

 the country for twenty-three years and an immediate connection with 

 the fisheries of Newfoundland during all that time. 



I have observed United States fishing-vessels in this neighborhood. 

 Last December the following vessels entered at the customs to enable 

 them to sell part cargo, they being engaged on a voyage for the pur- 

 chase of frozen herrings in Fortune Bay, viz : 



S. R. Lane, 72 tons, S. Jacobs, master, Gloucester ; General Grant, 

 86 tons, James Bowel, master, Gloucester; Laudseer, 99 tons, P. Mal- 

 ady, master, Gloucester ; Mary M., 101 tons, M. B. Murray, master, 

 Gloucester ; Crown Point, 103 tons, W. H. Burne, master, Newbury- 

 port. I believe there have been fully one hundred and fifty United 

 States fishing-vessels in this bay during the past summer. 



In the fall of 1874 and beginning of 1875, I find that twelve United 

 States vessels entered at this port, being engaged on a voyage for the 

 purchase of frozen herrings. 



The United States vessels referred to by me as in this bay the present 

 summer came to purchase bait. Not one of these vessels entered at the 

 customs at Harbor Breton. I am of opinion that two-thirds of these 

 vessels have not entered at any customs office in Newfoundland, nor 

 paid light-dues. These vessels came into this bay to purchase bait. 

 One vessel had a seine intending to haul bait, but found it less trouble 

 to purchase. 



United States fishing-vessels have fished about Pass Island, and for- 



