AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1197 



2. When in the North Bay, about nine years ago, I have seen from 

 eighty to ninety American vessels at one time together taking mackerel. 

 The mackerel were taken mostly all inshore, within three miles of the 

 shore, nor would it pay to go to the North Bay to take mackerel unless 

 we could take them well in three miles of the shore. 



3. The American mackerel- vessels carried from fourteen to eighteen 

 men each. Their vessels now carry more men because they are larger. 

 These vessels took from three to four hundred barrels on each trip. They 

 made from two to three trips. They ran into the Strait of Canso and 

 landed their cargoes, which were often sent away in steamers and fish- 

 ing-vessels. On the third trip they usually filled up full with from five 

 to six hundred barrels and went home. 



4. The Americans took in the bay also large quantities of codfish, and 

 I would say that there were as many Americans in the North Bay tak- 

 ing codfish as there were Nova Scotian vessels year after year down till 

 last year included. This has been my experience there for fifteen years. 

 These codfish-vessels average about fourteen men ; they carry each 

 from twelve to sixteen men ; they take from a thousand to twelve hun- 

 dred quintals to each vessel, and generally make two trips. 



5. I have seen at the Magdalenes over sixty American vessels engaged 

 in taking herring, and there were, I think, many more which I did not 

 see. In the spring of seventy-six I saw around the Magdalenes many 

 American herring vessels. These herring- vessels carry from ten to 

 twelve hands, and take from a thousand to three thousand barrels to 

 each vessel. These herring were all taken inshore by seining on the 

 shore. 



6. In my experience the mackerel-fishing has varied, being some years 

 good and others poor. In seventy-two the catch was very plentiful. 

 The herring fishery, in my experience, has remained about the same. 

 Codfish vary to some extent ; if bait is plenty codfish are plenty, and, 

 in my experience, I could always catch codfish if I had plenty of bait. 



7. Mackerel used to be taken by the Americans usually with hook 

 and line, they are now taken also by the Americans with purse seines. 

 The Americans formerly took codfish with hook and line, now they take 

 them mostly by trawling in the North Bay. The most of the Canadian 

 vessels in the North Bay take codfish with hook and line. Trawling I 

 consider very bad for the fishery, as the mother fish are taken and 

 great quantities of spawn destroyed. By hand-lining few mother fish 

 are taken. The Americans take all their fish on the Banks by trawling 

 and have done so since I can recollect. Canadians had commenced to 

 take by trawling within the last four or five years. It is three years 

 since I commenced. Canadians have been compelled to trawl in order 

 to compete with the Americans. 



8. The throwing overboard of gurry I consider injurious to the fishing 

 ground, as it gluts and drives away the fish and destroys the eggs and 

 young fish. 



9. The Americans always fished inshore whatever the treaty was. 

 When a cutter came in sight they moved off and came 'inshore when 

 she disappeared. Since the Treaty of Washington the Americans have 

 fished inshore more freely than when they had not the right to our in- 

 shore fisheries. 



10. The inshore fisheries in Canadian waters are of much greater 

 value than the off-shore fisheries. I would say more than double the 

 value. 



11. I have seen the Americans use purse seines to a large extent in 

 the North Bay. These purse seines I consider very injurious to the fish- 



