1180 



AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



From forty to fifty American vessels frequent Fortune Bay in winter 

 for herrings to freeze, and freight to Gloucester, Xew York, and Boston; 

 these herrings they always purchase from our people. Americans do 

 not fish off Pass Island, they having exhausted that fishery. American 

 fishing vessels have been seen fishing off Cape St. Mary's ; I have not 

 seen any fishing in this neighborhood. 



The supply of bait to United States fishermen shortens the supply of 

 bait to our local fishermen. I am of decided opinion that the large 

 number of United States vessels fishing on the Banks off our coasts 

 shortens the catch of our local fishermen, as these Americans are well 

 supplied with fresh bait which attracts the fish to the ground where 

 United States fishermen fish. It has been remarked that when the 

 great body of American vessels leave the Banks in the fall of the year 

 then the fish becomes more abundant than before. 



I am of opinion that the scarcity of fish the past summer along our 

 southwest coasts is owing to United States fishermen fishing on the 

 Banks of our coasts. 



JAMES EEEVES. 



Sworn before me at St. Lawrence this fifth day of December, 1876. 



J. O. FRASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 65. 



HUGH VAVASSEUR, aged 60 years, preventive officer, residing at St. 

 Lawrence, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith that 



I have resided at St. Lawrence during the past thirty-six years, dur- 

 ing all which time and for ten years previously at Gaultois and Harbor 

 Breton. I was closely connected with the fisheries of this country. I 

 have seen a number of United States fishing-vessels in this neighbor- 

 hood. I can only give particulars of the following, viz : 



These vessels, among the many that call at this harbor, were the only 

 vessels that paid light-money. The above-named vessels, with the other 

 United States fishing vessels that called at this harbor, came to procure 

 bait, which they procured principally by purchasing from our people ; 

 but in several instances they jigged squids for themselves on the jigging- 

 grounds used by our people, their operations being very hurtful to local 

 fishermen from the noise and turmoil of their dories and crews, which 

 drive the squids from the ground. 



Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish generally within 2 miles of the 

 shores, the only exceptions being on the west coast, where fishermen 

 sometimes fish off from 6 to 9 miles from the shores. The caplin, her- 

 rings, and squid fisheries, for the purposes of bait, are all inshore fish- 

 eries, and are never prosecuted farther than a half a mile from the shores, 



