AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1251 



13. The privilege of fishing in American waters is, in my opinion, 

 terly valueless to Canadians ; and I have never, in my experience o 



at- 



of a 



quarter of a century, heard of any Canadian vessel fishing in the waters 

 of the United States. 



14. I consider that the privilege of transshipping cargoes is worth to 

 American fishermen about 50 per cent, of their catch. The privilege of 

 baiting is also worth a large proportion, probably more than 50 per cent, 

 of the whole catch, to the American cod-fishermen. 



PHILIP LEMONTAIS. 



The said Philip LeMontais was sworn to the truth of this affidavit at 

 Arichat, in the county of Kichmond, on the 3d day of August, A. D. 

 1877, before me. 



E. P. FLYXN, 

 A Justice of the Peace. 



STo. 130. 



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



of Washington. 



I, CHRISTOPHER SMYTH, of Port Hood, in the county of Inverness, 

 merchant, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been for the past twenty years engaged in the supplying 

 business, as a clerk in a supplying establishment, and latterly as a mer- 

 chant, and have had pretty good opportunities of becoming familiar with 

 the general trade of this coast. I have dealt in all kinds of pickled and 

 dry fish to the extent of five thousand dollars annually. 



2. During the Reciprocity Treaty I have known over four hundred 

 American vessels fishing in the waters of this coast annually, and no 

 doubt many more fished on other parts of the British American coast 

 that I did not know of. The vessels engaged in the fishing business are 

 of about 60 tons, and the crew numbers about fifteen men. The chief 

 fish taken by the American fishermen are mackerel and codfish. 



3. The American vessels usually make about two or three trips during 

 the season, and the cargo of each of these would average something less 

 than three hundred barrels per trip, so far as I am aware. The price of 

 mackerel during and after the Eeciprocity Treaty was about $15.00 per 

 barrel American currency. 



4. I have, seen American fishermen fishing within three miles of the 

 shore during the Reciprocity Treaty and during the Washington Treaty, 

 but I would not like to state what proportion was caught during the 

 treaty inshore, as I have no accurate means of knowing. 



5. American fishing-vessels usually begin to arrive here about May 

 and procure bait for the cod-fishing. In July they come hero to begin 

 the mackerel fisheries, and continue until November each year. 



6. Port Hood, during the Keciprocity Treaty, was a favorite or gen- 

 eral place of resort lor American fishing-vessels. They came here for 

 bait, supplies, outfits, and men. I have seen two hundred sail in this 

 port at one time. 



7. The catch of mackerel has fallen off somewhat during the past two 

 or three years in this part of the coast, but this has not been owing to 

 any diminution in the number of mackerel actually frequenting our 

 shores; I don't believe there has been any falling off in the quantity of 

 mackerel on our shores ; and I believe, according to the best of my 



