AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1221 



large number of United States vessels on the Banks, well supplied with 

 fresh bait, tends to keep fish from passing toward our shores and largely 

 decreases the catch of codfish by local fishermen, and that the short fish- 

 ery last year was mainly attributable to their operations. 



The vessels that called here last year for bait were supplied with ice 

 before coming here ; they procured their ice on other parts of the shore. 

 There is no ice-house in this harbor. American vessels refit in this 

 neighborhood, and have sold small fish and oil in Harbor Main, Holy- 

 rood, and elsewhere in this bay. All fishermen of this country believe 

 that the traffic, as carried on by United States fishermen in our harbors, 

 for fresh bait, and on the Banks off our coasts, is hurtful to our fisher- 

 ies, and has already resulted in great damage to our bait fishery. 



ED. O'BRIEN. 



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

 25th April, 1877. 



J. O. FRASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 102. 



EDWARD WADE, aged 56 years, planter and fisherman, residing at 

 Cats Cove, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



I was present when Edward O'Brien made the statement before J. O. 

 Fraser, on this day, marked A, which I know to be true in all particu- 

 lars except as relates to the age of said Edward O'Brien. 



bis 

 EDWARD + WADE. 



mark. 



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

 25th April, 1877. 



J. O. FRASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



EDWARD MEANEY, 48 years, planter and fisherman, residing at 

 Salmon Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



I was present when Edward O'Brien made the statement marked A, 

 on this day,' before J. O. Fraser, commissioner of affidavits, and, except 

 as relates to the age of Edward O'Brien, 1 believe said statement to be 

 true in all particulars. 



EDWARD MEANEY. 



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

 25th April, 1877. 



J. O. FRASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 103. 



GEORGE BUTLER, aged 55 years, farmer, residing at Northern Gut, 

 Conception Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



I have followed the cod fishery in Newfoundland for about fifteen 

 years ; but during late years I have followed farming. 



I saw a number of United States fishing-schooners in this neighbor- 

 hood the last two years ; the number seen by me was from eight to ten. 

 These vesels came here for fresh bait. I saw them jigging squids, and 



