AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1247 



is worth a load, and the privilege of getting bait in our inshores for cod 

 and halibut is worth these fisheries. 



17. The privilege enjoyed by the Americans to fish in our waters 

 injures our Canadian fishermen a great deal. Their vessels and gear 

 are so much better we cannot compete with them at all, and our fish- 

 ing-grounds cannot stand the heavy drafts. Our past experience is 

 there to prove the fact. 



BAPTISTE COUTURE. 



Sworn to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief, at Grand 

 Eiver, county of Gaspe", Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, this 

 25th day of July, A. D. 1877, before me. 



K LAYOlE, 

 Justice of Peace, Province of Quebec. 



No. 127. 



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



of Washington. 



I, EDWARD G. HALL, of New Carlisle, county of Bonaventure, Prov- 

 ince of Quebec, farmer and fisherman, make oath and say as follows: 



1. Have been engaged in the fisheries off' and on for about 30 year's. 

 Have fished with the Americans. 



2. Between 1854 and 1866 the mackerel-fishing by the Americans was 

 very extensive. The average number of vessels visiting these shores 

 have been about 150 yearly. The average tonnage of these vessels being 

 about 70 Ions, having from 12 to 15 men for a crew. 1 have seen vessels 

 fishing in Bay Chaleur for mackerel, and I have fished myself with them, 

 and inshore for a season, between 1854 and 1866. 



3. The American vessels that have visited our shores have always 

 done well during the period mentioned. Each voyage amounting yearly 

 to 350 barrels each. And the captain of the American vessel in which 

 I was engaged told me that several of these schooners make two or 

 three trips yearly. 



4. In the Bay Chaleur the cod-fishery is better now than formerly. 

 Herring about the same. Mackerel as plenty as ever on the south shore 

 of the Bay Chaleur. I have seen large schools not later than last Sat- 

 urday off my place, and very close to the shore. 



5. The Americans catch mackerel with hand-lines and seines. I have 

 seen the seines in their boats, and I saw about 40 barrels of mackerel 

 that they had taken with the seines in one hour. 



6. In Bay Chaleur American fishermen fish inshore with hand lines 

 two-thirds of the time, and all the hauling of the seines are inshore. 



7. The inshore fishery on this shore is of greater value than the out- 

 side. 



8. All the herring, caplin, and lance are taken inshore, and all the 

 codfish also. Two-thirds of the mackerel are also taken insli-ore. 



9. The use of the seines by the Americans is injurious to the fishery, 

 because it takes every kind offish, a part of which is lost, because they 

 don't want it, and they throw them away. 



10. The Americans take bait in our inshores. 



11. Since 1871 the fishery has not changed in the Bay Chaleur, ex- 

 cept for mackerel, but there is a great increase this year. 



12. The Americans catch herring in our inshores for bait only. 



