1246 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Xo. 126. 



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



of Washington: 



I, BAPTISTE COUTURE, of Grand River, county of Gaspe", Province of 

 Quebec, fisherman, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been engaged in all the fisheries on this coast for forty 

 years. 



2. The fishing by the American fishermen was very extensive on this 

 shore between Newport and Cape Despair, a distance of 27 miles, from 

 1854 to 1866. On this shore during the Reciprocity Treaty, from 1854 

 to 1866, fully sixty schooners have been engaged in the mackerel fishery 

 yearly, each of these vessels being about 70 tons, having a crew of fifteen 

 men. 



3. On an average these schooners have made good voyages of 400 

 barrels each. 



4. The cod-fishery seems to be on the increase, and considerably. 

 Herring are about the same, and mackerel seem to be in as great 

 abundance on our shores here as in former years. Our Canadian fisher- 

 men take them as plentifully now as in the best years. 



5. The Americans take mackerel with hand lines and seines. 



6. During the Reciprocity Treaty, between 1854 and 1866, the Ameri- 

 can fishermen that have resorted to these shores for mackerel have 

 caught the most of them inshore, and sometimes very close to the shore. 

 I have seen them fish with hand lines only, and they have got their load 

 in a few days. Every year I have been alongside of them and have 

 seen them fishing. 



7. Our inshore fisheries are of much greater value than the outside. 

 Herring, caplin, launce are caught inshore, and two-thirds of the mack- 

 erel also. 



8. It is the common practice of the Americans to come in among the 

 boats and, by throwing bait, entice the mackerel away with them. They 

 have done the same to me many times. And if a school of mackerel 

 were to come into any of our coves, and the Americans to come in after 

 them, they would catch them all before we could get one. 



9. I have seen the Americans several times come into our inshores and 

 catch caplin with seines, and herring with nets, for bait. 



10. Since 1871 all the fisheries that is to say, mackerel, herring, and 

 codfish have increased, and there is as much bait as ever; and I am 

 sure this increase is due to the withdrawing of American fishermen from 

 our waters. 



11. Mackerel feed inshore ; their food is lance and other small fish 

 which live inshore. 



12. It is a great advantage to the Americans to be allowed to trans- 

 ship their cargoes in our inshores ; it enables them to keep on the fish- 

 ing-grounds and to double their fares. 



13. It is a great advantage to the Americans to be able to catch bait 

 in our inshores, or to buy it. If they buy it, it is because they find it 

 more profitable. 



14. The Americans could not carry on the cod and halibut fishery 

 profitably if they could not procure bait in our inshores. 



15. It is of no advantage to Canadians to be able to fish in American 

 waters, and I never knew of any vessel from here going there to do so. 



16. The privilege of transshipping cargoes enjoyed by the Americans 



