1250 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



situated in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, with branches at various 

 points, and among others at Arichat, Cheticamp, Passepebiac, Perce, 

 Caraquet, Grand Eiver, and other places in Canada. 



2. I am quite confident that the number of American fishing-vessels 

 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ranges from six hundred to eight hundred 

 vessels yearly. I am perfectly confident that is below the mark, and I 

 have good means of knowing it, as I have been agent of Jtobin & Com- 

 pany at Cheticamp, on the northwestern shore of Cape Breton, for the 

 greater part of twenty years. The harbor of Cheticamp is much fre- 

 quented by American fishing- vessels, and I have seen at one time along 

 the shore between six hundred and eight hundred fishing-vessels, most 

 of which were American. These vessels were fishing for mackerel 

 along the shore of Cape Breton. 



3. I consider that five hundred barrels of mackerel per vessel each 

 season is about the averege catch of the American mackerelers in the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence. These mackerel are worth, on an average, ten 

 dollars per barrel. 



4. The mackerel fishery is variable, being occasionally poor for a year 

 or two, and afterwards becoming excellent again. The mackerel fishery 

 was very good from 1871 to 1874, but poor in 1875 and 1876. I have 

 known these fish to be scarce for a year or two, as they were in 1875 

 and 1876, and afterwards come in plenty again ; and I believe, and my 

 experience teaches me, that the mackerel will be again abundant on our 

 coasts. 



5. The Americans catch the mackerel with hook and line, and within 

 the last two or three years they are using purse seines, which, in my 

 opinion, are very injurious to the mackerel fishery. The codfish are 

 caught by the Americans with trawls, which are also very destructive 

 to the fishery. 



6. Since the year 1871 the Americans have fished almost altogether 

 within three miles of the shore for mackerel. I believe that the outside 

 fisheries are not to be compared in value to the inshore fisheries on our 

 coasts. The Americans must catch at least one-half the mackerel they 

 get within three miles of the shore. 



7. There is no doubt whatever that our inshore boat-fishery is greatly 

 injured by the Americans fishing in our waters, as the latter come in 

 and throw bait and draw away the mackerel from the boat-fishermen. 



8. Since 1871 the Americans have been injuring our fisheries very 

 much more than formerly, as they have been allowed to come inshore 

 among our own fishermen. 



9. The herring fishery on our coast is altogether an inshore fishery. 



10. The food of mackerel is found chiefly inshore, and it is probably 

 close to the shore where they spawn and breed. 



11. It is a very great advantage to American fishermen to be allowed 

 to transship their cargoes on our shores. This privilege saves them about 

 two or three weeks on each trip they make to the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 for mackerel, and this in the best part of the fishing season. 



12. The privilege of procuring bait in Canadian waters is, of course, 

 a very great advantage to American cod-fishermen. The greater part 

 of their bait is purchased from our fishermen, and it is cheaper for them 

 to obtain it in that way than to spend the time in catching it themselves. 

 I don't believe that the Americans can profitably carry on the cod fish- 

 ery of the deep sea without resorting to the shores of Canada or New- 

 foundland for bait. It is also a great advantage to the American cod- 

 fishermen to be allowed to procure ice on our shores to keep their bait 

 fresh while on their way to the fishing grounds. 



