1252 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



judgment, that there will be as productive yield of mackerel duriug the 

 coming eight years as for eight years past. 



8. It is a great advantage to American fishermen coming to Canadian 

 waters to be allowed to land and dry their nets and cure their fish ; 

 and if they had not this privilege, it would largely diminish the profits 

 of their business. 



9. I consider the opportunity given to the American fishermen of 

 transshipping cargoes by the Treaty of Washington a great advantage 

 to them. This is not done to any extent at Port Hood, but I am in- 

 formed that it is done at the Strait of Canso, and I believe that this 

 privilege may become before long a source of great profit to American 

 fishermen, as the fish can be preserved in ice, and forwarded direct to 

 American markets fresh. 



10. The American fishermen procure bait for their fisheries in Cana- 

 dian ports. Latterly, they purchase this, rather than catch it, but the 

 only reason they have for doing this is because it is more convenient and 

 profitable for them to do so. There is nothing to hinder them from tak- 

 ing herring and squid from our inshores if they prefer to do so. 



11. In my opinion the Americans could not carry on the cod and other 

 deep-sea fisheries profitably around our coasts if they had not the privi- 

 lege of procuring bait at our ports. It would put them to great incon- 

 venience, and lessen the number of their trips each year. 



12. I would not undertake to estimate the cash value to each Ameri- 

 can fishing- vessel to enjoy the privilege of our inshore fisheries, and of 

 procuring bait and supplies and transshipping cargoes, but it is very 

 great. And if all these privileges were taken away, I cannot see how 

 American fishermen could continue to prosecute the fisheries around 

 this coast. 



13. The privilege of fishing in American waters is of no value what- 

 ever to Canadian fishermen. I never heard of any Canadian availing 

 himself of this privilege, nor is there any prospect of such a thing. 



CHEISTOPHER SMYTH. 



Sworn to at Port Hood, in the county of Inverness, this 20th day of 

 July, A. D. 1877, before me. 



D. CAMPBELL, J. P. 



Xo. 131. 



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



of Washington. 



I, JOHN INGHAM BRAXD, of Pubnico, in the county of Yarmouth, es- 

 quire, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been engaged in the fisheries twenty-two years ; several 

 years on board of American vessels in Canadian waters. 



2. About six hundred American vessels, from all ports, are engaged 

 in fishing in Canadian waters ; the average number of men is about 

 fourteen. This is within my knowledge the past fifteen years. They 

 fish for mackerel, codfish, and halibut, from Bay de Chaleur to Cape , 

 Forchu. 



3. As I never was master of a fishing- vessel, I cannot give the average 

 quantity taken by American vessels in Canadian waters. 



4. The mackerel on our Xova Scotia shores are improving ; herring 

 not so good as in the past. The cod fishing is improved on account of 

 the facilities for bait and ice to keep it fresh. 



