AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1223 



Sworn before me at Bay Roberts, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, 

 this 26th April, 1877. 



J. O. ERASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 105. 



JOHN BARRET, aged 60 years, planter, resident at Spaniard's Bay, 

 Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



I know the fisheries of this country by having followed the same for 

 forty-five years. 



I saw three United States fishing-schooners in this harbor last year, 

 and there were a large number in other parts of the bay. 



These vessels came here for fresh herrings and squids for bait. This 

 bait they procured partly by catching for themselves and partly by pur- 

 chasing from our people. The quantity taken by each vessel was forty 

 barrels for each trip. These vessels oame here from the Banks for bait, 

 and left again for the Banks when they had procured their bait. The 

 price paid for bait by United States fishermen was from one shilling to 

 fifteen pence per hundred for squids. 



Newfoundland fishermen generally catch codfish within two miles of 

 the shore. The Newfoundland fishery is an inshore fishery. The cap- 

 lin, herring, and squid, caught for bait, are all inshore fisheries, taken 

 generally within stone's throw of the shore. 



1 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 do sell small codfish, oil, and fishery produce 

 in this neighborhood, as I believe they do in most places along our 

 shores where they call. I purchased fifteen cwt. codfish and thirty gal- 

 lons cod-oil from them last year. For the codfish I gave ten shillings 

 per cwt., and for the oil two shillings and sixpence per gallon. 



The supply of bait to United States fishermen tends to decrease the 

 supply to local fishermen, and I believe such has already been the result 

 of their bait traffic in this bay. 



I am of decided opinion that the presence of the large number of 

 United States fish ing- vessels on the Banks well supplied with fresh bait 

 interferes with and tends greatly to reduce the catch of local fishermen, 

 and firmly believe that the short catch last year was attributable to the 

 operations of United States fishermen as aforesaid. Tbe fishery in this 

 bay and along these shores last year and year previous was not more 

 than half the average of former years. 



There is an ice-house at Harbor Grace and Mosquito where ice is 

 stored. Americans here last year got their ice at Mosquito. 



JOHN BARRETT. 



Sworn before me at Spaniard's Bay, this 27th Apiil, 1877. 



J. O. FRASER, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



ARCHIBALD HUTCHINGS, aged 56 years, fisherman, residing at Span- 

 iard's Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith : 



I followed the fisheries of this country for forty years. I was present 

 when John Barrett made the above statement, and, excepting as relates 

 to the age of said John Barrett and his transactions in fish and oil with 



