1194 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



one to fifteen of these vessels in this neighborhood. I did not take any 

 particular account of vessels, but can name the following as among 

 them : 



I cannot give particulars as to tonnage of these vessels, which would 

 vary from sixty to one hundred tons. The United States vessels I refer 

 to as frequenting this neighborhood came here to purchase and haul 

 bait, which they did. For the purpose of hauling bait they hired seines 

 belonging to the fishermen of the place. Except the last trip, made 

 about end of October and first of November, these vessels procured full 

 allowances of fresh bait, and purchased salted squids and herrings as 

 their chief supply for the last trip. I have sold bait to United States 

 fishing vessels. I, with others in this harbor, supplied bait last year to 

 about one hundred and fifty United States fishing vessels. Each vessel 

 would take forty barrels of squids one vessel taking eighty barrels 

 squids. The squids sold these United States fishing vessels would be 

 supplied in August and September, which they preserved fresh in ice, 

 when ice was procurable, and in October salted squids were sold to them 

 for bait, when fresh was not to be had. 



During the caplin season United States fishing vessels regularly fre- 

 quent this neighborhood as they do for squids, and about m equal num- 

 bers. In the spring they prefer herrings to capliu, but failing to get 

 herrings they take caplin, which they preserve in ice. American fishing 

 vessels (I mean United States vessels) make from one to three trips for 

 bait and ice. The prices paid for bait by United States fishing vessels 

 in this neighborhood has been for caplin one dollar per barrel ; for her- 

 rings, from five to ten shillings per barrel, and for squids, from ten 

 shillings to twelve shillings and sixpence per barrel for fresh squids. 

 Sometimes when squids are scarce, they give three shillings per hun- 

 dred squids. 



The squid for bait has been represented by the captains of these 

 United States vessels as invaluable. One captain refused a brother 

 captain on the Banks to give him a barrel of squids for sixteen dollars. 

 Newfoundland fishermen generally fish within two miles of our shores. 

 The Newfoundland cod-fishery is an inshore fishery. The caplin, her- 

 ring, and squid for bait are all inshore fisheries, and except in rare 

 instances, when squids are caught some distance off, are never taken at 

 a distance of more than three miles from the shore, but are generally 

 caught in the harbors and coves along our shores. 



I never heard of a Newfoundland vessel prosecuting any fishery on 

 any of the coasts of the United States of America. 



United States fishermen have sold small codfish and cod-oil in this 

 neighborhood. I have purchased codfish and oil from them. The prices 

 paid have been eight and nine shillings per cwt. for green codfish, and 



