AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1219 



at seven shillings per hundredweight, and for the five casks oil sold by 

 them they were paid two shillings and sixpence per gallon. 



The large supply of bait to United States fishermen decreases the 

 supply to our local fishermen. The herring was never known to be so 

 scarce as this spring. The cod fishery along shore is injuriously atfected 

 by the large supply of fresh bait on the Banks to United States 

 fishermen, which prevented codfish passing toward the shore; and I 

 believe the short catch along our southwest shores last year was on 

 account of their fishing operations in bait and on the Banks. 



The catch last year was not more than one-half what it was before 

 1874 ; to say a fourth would be nearer the correct thing. We believe 

 they wont leave a fish for us to catch. One of the captains told me that 

 this year we would not see the light through the tackle, they would be 

 so numerous, and we fully expect them. 



DANIEL TUCKER. 



Sworn before me, at Broad Cove, Cramp Bay, Newfoundland, this 19th 

 April, 1877. 



J. O. ERASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



JOSEPH TUCKER, aged 47 years, fisherman, residing at Broad Cove, 

 Cramp Bay, Newfoundland, makes oath and saith : 



I was present when Daniel Tucker made the above statement, and 

 know that it is true in every particular, having had practical experi- 

 ence in the fisheries since I was ten years of age. 



JOSEPH TUCKER. 



Sworn before me, at Broad Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, this 

 nineteenth day of April, 1877. 



J. O. TEASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits 



No. 100. 



PHILIP LEWIS, aged 44 years, fisherman, residing at Holyrood, Con- 

 ception Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



I have prosecuted the fisheries of Newfoundland for 23 years and up- 

 wards. 1 saw a great many United States vessels in this neighborhood. 

 Last spring there were a large number here throughout the season there 

 were upwards of twenty of these vessels here ; among these I can only 

 name a few of the captains in charge Captains Morrissey, Keehau, 

 Kane or King, Greenwood, Gray, Collinwood. 



A St. John's man in charge of an American fishing schooner, who 

 was among those who caught squids on Sunday. Deneif, whose vessel 

 was at Harbor Main ; Eyan, the latter was among those jigging squids 

 on Sunday. There was so many, and most of them strange names to 

 me 1 cannot recollect many of them. 



These vessels came here to procure fresh bait. They did procure their 

 bait here, purchasing the principal part and jigging a part for themselves. 

 Their vessels anchored within a quarter of a mile from the shore. Each 

 vessel took about twenty-five barrels and upwards from this place; some 

 more. Their full supply of bait would be fifty barrels, but most of them 

 had a part of what they required, which they procured in other harbors. 

 They paid from sixpence to two shillings per hundred squids. There 

 was no ice here for sale to them they supplied themselves with ice else- 

 where and when their stock was out they salted their squids. The total 



