AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1235 



the mackerel by both nets and hook and line. This they do all round 

 the coast here with which I aui acquainted. 



9. Since eighteen hundred and seventy-one there has been a decrease 

 in the amount of codfish taken by our inshore fishermen. The mackerel 

 in my experience have varied, being some years good and others poor. 

 The causes of this are, as already stated, deep trawling, throwing offal 

 overboard, and over fishing. 



10. All bur herring are taken inshore, and in this bay there are about 

 four hundred barrels taken yearly. The Americans catch and buy them 

 for bait all around the coast. 



11. The Canadian mackerel I know are better than those taken in 

 American waters, because in the summer of eighteen hundred and sev- 

 enty-one 1 went into the American markets and made it my business to 

 make inquiries, and found American fish-dealers very eager to get our 

 mackerel. 



12. The Americans, in my opinion, would be unable to carry on the 

 cod and halibut fishing successfully unless they were allowed to frequent 

 our bays, harbors, and creeks for bait, and ice in which to pack it, and 

 without it would be unable to secure a cargo. 



13. The American fishermen buy but very few articles, being supplied 

 before leaving home, and only buy articles when they run short, and 

 their trade in this respect I consider only an accommodation to them- 

 selves. 



14. As far as I know, the privilege of fishing in American waters is 

 of no benefit to Canadians, nor have I ever heard of any benefit being 

 derived by Canadians from this privilege. 



15. 1 have heard of a considerable amount of smuggling being done 

 by American vessels in kerosene oil. 



16. The Americans, to my knowledge, get a large number of their 

 fishermen from Cape Breton, who go into American vessels and thus 

 build up the American fishing establishment at the expense of our own ; 

 and I believe that it would be much better for us if the Americans were 

 totally excluded and our markets left to ourselves. 



ISAAC AKCHIBALD. 



Sworn to at Cow Bay, in the county of Cape Breton, this 24th day of 

 July, A. D. 1877, before me. 



JOSEPH MoPHERSON, J. P. 



No. 116. 



In the matter of the Fisheries Commission at Halifax, under the Treaty 



of Washington. 



I, JOSEPH DOBSON, of South Sydney, in the county of Cape Breton, 

 miller and millowner, make oath and say as follows : 



1. Within the last three years I have supplied American fishing 

 schooners with ice in which to pack their bait, from two and one-half to 

 three tons each vessel, and I have supplied as many as eight during the 

 past three years, and within the last fortnight 1 have thus supplied two 

 American fishing-vessels. 



-. Within the last fortnight there have been at least a dozen Ameri- 

 can fishing- vessels around here close to the shore fishing for bait squid, 

 perch, smelts, and all kinds of small fish suitable for bait. This bait 

 they pack in ice to keep fresh. They are supplied with ice by other 

 dealers besides me in this harbor. The Americans told me the bait was 



