1184 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



creases the supply of bait to our local fishermen. They engage our 

 people, who sweep the coves, and frequently leave nothing behind them. 

 I believe that the presence of the large number of United States ves- 

 sels fishing on the Banks off our coasts, and supplied with fresh bait, 

 greatly interferes with and reduces the catch of our local fishermen ; 

 and that the short catch of codfish the past summer along our south 

 and west coast is owing chiefly to their operations. The quantity of 

 bait sent to St. Pierre from this harbor is small, but there are thirty 

 craft engaged in supplying bait to the French chiefly from Fortune 

 Bay, from where some 15,000 barrels herrings are taken to St. Pierre by 

 vessels of this harbor; the value of this bait would be about thirty 

 thousand francs; a third of the above quantity annually is thrown over- 

 board, being unsalable at St. Pierre in seasons of abundance. There 

 is one ice-house at this harbor where ice is kept principally, and almost 

 exclusively, for sale to United States vessels for the preservation of fresh 

 bait. A number of United States vessels did purchase ice at this harbor 

 the past season, but I cannot give particulars. 



WILLIAM COLLINS. 



Sworn before me at Burin this sixth day of December, A. D., 1876. 



J. O. FEASEE, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 69. 



OWEN PINE, aged 67 years, planter, residing at Burin Bay or Inlet, 

 Newfoundland, maket oath and saith that 



I have become acquainted with the fisheries of Newfoundland by fol- 

 lowing the same in all its branches, since I was fourteen years of age. 



I have seen from ten to fifteen United States fishing-vessels at a time 

 in this neighborhood. They came for bait and ice, which they purchase 

 in general. I have seen them catch bait for themselves in our harbors. 

 I believe the supply of bait to United States fishermen decreases the 

 supply to our local fishermen. 



I am clearly of opinion that United States fishermen on the Banks off 

 our coasts, supplied with fresh bait, greatly reduces the catch of cod- 

 fish by our local fishermen, and believe that the short catch the past 

 summer along our south and west coasts is mainly owing to their pres- 

 ence on the outer Banks off our coasts. We know that they line the 

 Banks facing these shores, with fresh bait, and that while coufish can 

 get such bait on the Banks they will not pass toward our shores in 

 quest of what they can get on the Banks. The increase of American 

 fishermen on the Banks has been remarkable by a decrease of codfish 

 along our shores. 



OWEN PINE. 



Sworn before me at Burin Bay, N. F., the 8th December, 1876. 



J. O. FEASEE, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 70. 



EICHARD PAUL, aged 40 years, fisherman, residing at Burin Bay r 

 Newfoundland, making oath and saith : 



I know the fisheries of Newfoundland by having prosecuted the same 

 for over 25 years. I have observed a number of United States fishing- 

 vessels in this neighborhood ; they are all the time passing backward 



