AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1177 



to be freighted by these American vessels to the United States. Ameri- 

 cans purchase these herrings from our people. I believe the supply of 

 bait to United States vessels decreases the supply of bait to our local 

 fishermen. I believe that if the practice now being pursued of " bar- 

 ring" large quantities of herrings to be sold as bait to United States is 

 suffered to be continued that the supply of bait to fishermen in this bay 

 will speedily be destroyed. 



I do not doubt but that the large number of United States vessels 

 fishing on the Banks, with fresh bait, tends greatly to reduce the catch 

 of our people along shore, :ud if continued, as at present, will starve 

 local fishermen. I believe that the short catch by our people the past 

 summer along our southwest coasts is chiefly caused by Americans fish- 

 ing on the outer Banks as aforesaid. 



Signed by his mark, he having sore thumb. 



bis 

 WM. GEOEGE + BENNETT. 



mark. 



Sworn before me, at Fortune, this 27th day of November, 1876. 



J. O. FEASEE, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No 62. 



SAMUEL GEORGE HICKMAN, aged 36 years, planter, residing at Grand 

 Bank, Newfoundland, inaketh oath and saith that 



I am acquainted with the fisheries of Newfoundland by being a fish- 

 erman myself the past twenty-five years. I have annually observed 

 United States fishing-vessels in this bay, but especially last year, when 

 there were about three hundred of such vessels in the bay ; I name 

 among these, Lizzie V. Knight, William Morrissey, master; Proctor Bros., 

 Edward Trevoy, master, and a large number of others too numerous to 

 delay naming, my time being fully occupied. 



These vessels came into this bay to purchase fresh herrings for bait, 

 which they purchased from our fishermen. I have sold United States 

 vessels fresh bait; I have, with others under me, supplied over a hun- 

 dred United States vessels with bait from first to last ; each vessel would 

 take about 40 to 60 barrels, for which they would pay from $20 to $30. 



I have seen our shore surrounded by American fishermen fishing for 

 halibut and codfish, but cannot say that all these vessels were inside 

 three miles of a line from headland to headland. I have frequently seen 

 United States vessels fishing between Pass Island and Brunette Island; 

 in some instances these vessels have been fishing up the bay among the 

 cliffs. I cannot speak of the quantity or value of their catches, but I do 

 know that they destroyed the halibut fishery about Pass Island, and 

 largely damaged the cod fishery of Fortune Bay. One of their captains 

 told me "it was no use for our fishermen to go fishing after United 

 States fishermen." 



Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish generally within two miles of 

 the shore, there being exceptional places and instances where they go 

 from six to nine miles off the coast. The caplin, herring, and squid- 

 used for bait are inshore fisheries, being taken in coves and harbors 

 along the coasts, and for such purposes are never prosecuted outside 

 three miles. 



I never knew of a United States vessel prosecuting a fishing voyage 

 on any of their coasts. I believe United States fishermen do sell codfish 



