1178 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



in this neighborhood to our people, sometimes at St. Pierre, and some- 

 times in the harbors of the bay. 



From forty to fifty United States vessels regularly visit Fortune Bay 

 in winter to purchase herrings for freezing ; they have always purchased 

 their load of herrings except when prevented by ice in the bay ; their 

 load runs from six hundred to seven hundred barrels each, for which 

 they pay our fishermen nominally one dollar, but allowing for measure 

 exacted, seventy-five cents per barrel will be a fair average of the price 

 paid. These Americans have not caught any herrings as yet, because 

 the people of the bay would thereby be annoyed, and because Ameri- 

 cana can purchase cheaper than cost of catching by themselves. I do 

 not know of Americans fishing for turbot in this neighborhood. I am 

 certain that the supply of bait to United States fishermen has de- 

 creased the supply of bait to our local fishermen. I estimate there are 

 eighty herring seines belonging to this bay engaged in hauling bait for 

 the Americans, and that fully eighty seines belonging elsewhere are 

 also engaged in the same service. Bait for Americans commences to be 

 hauled about 1st to 10th of May, and ends in August. American vessels 

 come in from the Banks once every fortnight or three weeks, and 

 take fresh bait, averaging from forty to sixty barrels herrings. During 

 the baiting season as aforesaid it very generally happens that many 

 seines will have large quantities of herrings .inclosed say from five 

 hundred to fifteen hundred barrels, and retained as long as two months, 

 sometimes herrings rotting where inclosed, and where washed on shore 

 impregnating the air through all the stages of putrefaction. These 

 large seines " bar" herrings wherever they meet them in coves, creeks, 

 and along shore 5 and, during such inclosures, it stands to reason that 

 so great a number of captives lessens the numbers free, and injures net 

 owners; it is a fact that, during this barring, herrings do not mesh in 

 nets as at other times. 



I am of opinion that the presence of the large number of United 

 States vessels, fishing on the Banks off our coasts, supplied with bait, 

 interferes with and is the main cause in reducing the local catch ; and 

 that the scarcity of fish along our southwest coast this year has been 

 caused by the Americans fishing on the outer Banks. 



The average catch of fishermen of this harbor, this year, will be 

 about fifteen quintals per man. The catch in previous years was from 

 fifty to seventy quintals per man, but more generally seventy would be 

 nearer correctly stated. The price of fish this year, averaging all round, 

 would be about five dollars and twenty cents per quintal. 



The bait sold at St. Pierre, by the people of this harbor, will be about 

 5,000 or 6,000 barrels herring, value, 45,000 francs ; 10,000 hogsheads 

 caplin, value, 00,000 francs ; and about ten thousand barrels herrings 

 thrown away being unsalable; also from five to six hundred hogsheads 

 caplin. 



SAMUEL G. HICKMAN. 



Sworn before, at Grand Banks, this 24th November, 1876. 



J. O. FEASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 

 No. 63. 



HENRY BENNING, aged 37 years, subcollector Her Majesty's customs, 

 residing at Lamalin, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



That I have become acquainted with the Newfoundland fisheries by 

 connection therewith as supplier and otherwise during eight years. 



