1212 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



No. 94. 



THOMAS CAREW; G7 years; planter; residing at Shores Cove, Cape 

 Broyle, Newfoundland, maketb oath and saith : 



I have been intimately acquainted with the fisheries of Newfoundland 

 since I was fifteen years of age, as a fisherman. I have observed a large 

 number of United States fishing- vessels in this neighborhood. Last year 

 there were upwards of forty of these vessels in this locality, there being 

 twenty-one anchored together within sight of my windows, all after fresh 

 bait, which they procured in one, two, and three days. They came solely 

 for bait and ice or to refit. When they came for caplin, they bargained 

 with our seine owners who furnished seines and gear and part crew ; each 

 seine being worked-in part by two, three, and four United States fisher- 

 men, who take the bait from the seines and carry it on board their ves- 

 sels. Usually, in such cases, they pay the owner of the seine twenty 

 dollars for whatever bait they procure. Generally, they take from thirty 

 to forty barrels caplin. For squid bait they catch and purchase as they 

 can get them, but are getting into the way of bargaining with our peo- 

 ple to catch squids in advance of their arrival so that they may have no 

 delay. They each take from thirty to forty barrels squids per trip. 

 They bought ice from Mr. Casheu, Cape Broyle, until they cleared him 

 out. First part of season they got a supply of ice from bergs that drifted 

 into our coves. When they can't get ice American captains salt their 

 bait, but they say salt bait is not nearly so good. 



There were over two hundred United States fishing-schooners fre- 

 quenting our harbors and coves last season between St. John's and Tre- 

 passy, all after bait. Newfoundland fishermen, in general, fish for cod 

 within a mile of our shores. The caplin, herrings, and squids used for 

 bait are caught in coves along our coasts close to shore, and never at a 

 distance of three miles from our coast. 



I never heard of a Newfoundland vessel engaging in any fishing voy- 

 age on any of the shores or coasts of the United States of America. 



United States fishermen last year sold codfish and oil in this locality. 

 The Cashens purchased about six tons oil besides codfish. They also 

 sold fishery produce at Bay Bulls, but as to quantity I can say nothing. 

 They sold fish and oil wherever they anchored, to purchase bait, ice, and 

 refittings for their vessels, except in cases where they gave orders on 

 the United States consul, which they did in rare instances only. The 

 captains also gave orders in several instances on their owners for light 

 dues. 



I am of very strong opinion that the supply of bait to United States 

 fishermen decreases the supply to local fishermen. Last year Ameri- 

 cans swept the ground of squids in this locality, leaving our fishermen 

 without bait for six weeks. There is a great difference between the 

 workings of United States fishermen for caplin for bait, and of our own 

 people. They do more damage in a week than we could in a year ; their 

 vessels each take more capliu for a trip than our whole fishing popula- 

 tion, Cape Broyle included, would require for a season. I therefore am 

 of opinion tbat United States fishermen in their operations for bait will 

 greatly injure and probably destroy the caplin fishery, as they certainly 

 will the squid fishery. 



I cannot believe otherwise than that the presence of the large num- 

 ber of United States vessels known to be on the Banks each season 

 fishing for codfish, and well supplied with iresh bait, interferes with 

 and tends greatly to reduce the local catch of fish along our shores, and 

 feel certain, in my own mind, that their operations were the cause, to 



