1230 AWAED OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



gaged in mackerel fishing, and have seen at one time between twenty 

 and thirty American fishermen so engaged within sight, and think that 

 there would be in that vicinity, at one time, about one hundred. 



4. The presence of so many American fishermen lessens the catch of 

 fish. 



5. When fishing around the Magdalen Islands, Prince Edward Isl- 

 and, and eastern coast of New Brunswick, about eight or nine years ago, 

 the Americans took mackerel with hook and line ; since that time 

 American fishermen have used purse seines, and last summer an Amer- 

 ican skipper told me that he had caught mackerel in this way during 

 the said summer. These purse seines are bad for the fisheries. They 

 kill a great many of the fish, mashing them up, and when the seine is 

 tripped these mashed fish sink and frighten away the live fish, and in- 

 jure the fishing-grounds. 



7. I have never seen nor heard of Canadian fishermen using purse- 

 seines. 



8. I think that more than half the mackerel are taken inshore within 

 the three-mile limit, and the inshore fishing is far the most valuable, 

 because the mackerel strike in toward the shore, and the American ves- 

 sels follow them in to the shore ; and I do not believe it would pay the 

 Americans to come here to fish, unless they followed the fish inshore 

 within three miles. And when in the Island of Cape Breton, during the 

 mackerel season, I have seen many of them fishing within three miles 

 of the shore. 



9. It would be impossible for the Americans to successfully carry on 

 the cod and halibut fishing without getting bait from us and ice in 

 which to pack it, and the only place in which they can get this bait is in 

 our bays, creeks, and harbors ; also up our rivers, and always within 

 three miles of the shore. 



10. All the American fishermen engaged in the cod and halibut fish- 

 ery come round the southern and eastern coasts of Cape Breton, and 

 many American mackerel fishermen do the same. 



11. American fishermen throw overboard fish under a certain number 

 of inches ; and in halibut fishing throw away all the codfish, of which 

 they take large numbers, except the very large ones, thus wasting fish 

 and injuring the grounds. This practice our Canadian fishermen never 

 participate in. 



12. It is my opinion, it would be much better for our fishermen if the 

 Americans were kept off the inshore grounds and away from the fisher- 

 ies, as the fish would be much more plenty for our men. 



13. I do not think that the American fishermen are a benefit in any 

 way to our fishermen, but a great injury, lessening the catch and injur- 

 ing the fishing-grounds, by leaving dead fish and " gurry " on the 

 grounds. 



14 I have seen, this present summer, American fishermen within a 

 mile of the shore] fishing, and engaged in the taking of cod, halibut, 

 hake, and pollock, which must be of great value to them. 



15. The Americans come here in the early spring; fish along from 

 Cape North in Cape Breton, north of Bird Rock, St. Paul's Island, and 

 Magdalenes, and cut off many fish from going up the St. Lawrence to 

 our fishermen. 



JAMES McLEOD. 



Sworn to at North Sydney, in the county of Cape Breton, this 19th 

 day of July, A. D. 1877, before me, 



JOHN VOOGHT, 

 J. P., for and in the County of Cape Breton. 



