1172 AWAED OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



merly made good catches there. Captain Jacobs, of schooner , is 



said to have been offered nine thousand dollars for his load taken about 

 Pass Island. American fishing-vessels fishing off and about Pass Island 

 fished for halibut and codfish, but chiefly for halibut. My estimate of 

 the value of their catch is at least equal to ten thousand dollars per an- 

 num, and such fishery was conducted exclusively within three miles of 

 our shores. Newfoundland fishermen catch their " voyage " within three 

 miles of our shores, generally about one or two miles from the shore. 



The Newfoundland fisheries are peculiarly inshore fisheries. 



Caplin, herrings, and squid used for bait are always taken inshore, 

 generally in the coves and harbors along our coasts. 



I never heard tell of a Newfoundland fishing-vessel that prosecuted 

 the fishery on the coasts of the United States of America. 



American fishermen have sold small codfish in this bay ; some vessels 

 sold one hundred quintals, the price ranging from seven to ten shillings 

 per cwt., green. 



From thirty to forty American vessels frequent Fortune Bay in win- 

 ter for the purchase of frozen herrings ; they always purchase. The 

 average quantity of frozen herrings taken by each vessel will be from 

 five to eight hundred barrels. 



American fishermen do not now fish for halibut about Pass Island as 

 they formerly did, because I believe that that fishery has been exhausted 

 by the Americans. I know of no United States fishing-vessels fishing 

 within three miles of the shore except at and about Pass Island, as al- 

 ready stated. 



American fishing-vessels do avail of the privilege to refit their ves- 

 sels in this bay when they come from the Banks. 



I have not heard of American fishing-vessels transshipping cargo in a 

 Newfoundland port. 



The supply of bait to United States fishermen has decreased the sup- 

 ply of bait to our local fishermen. There is not the least doubt but 

 that the presence of so large a number of American vessels fishing on 

 the Banks off our coasts, well supplied with fresh bait, largely inter- 

 feres with and reduces the catch of our local fishermen, and I am of 

 opinion that the scarcity of fish along our southwest coast this summer 

 has been mainly caused by the United States fishing- vessels fishing on 

 the outer Banks. The quantity of bait annually sent to St. Peters from 

 Fortune Bay I estimate as follows : 



About thirty thousand barrels herrings and about ten thousand hogs- 

 heads caplin. The quantity of squid supplied the French I cannot 

 state. 



The value would be about sixteen thousand pounds, annually, for bait 

 supplied the French. 



There are five or six ice-houses in this neighborhood where ice is 

 stored for sale to the Americans to preserve fresh bait. 



American fishing- vessels each make two and three trips to the Banks, 

 and take each trip from forty to sixty barrels fresh herrings per vessel, 

 for which they pay from fifty to one'hundred cents per barrel. These 

 American fishing- vessels take each from three to five tons ice per trip for 

 preservation of their bait, for which they pay three and one-half dollars 

 per ton. 



PHILIP HUBERT, 



Subcollector. 



Sworn before me at Harbor Breton, Newfoundland, this fourteenth 

 day of November, 1876. 



J. O. FRASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



