AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1255 



twenty-two hundred and fifty, last year a thousand. This vessel was 

 out each year about five mouths and a half, and carried twelve hands 

 each year. 



6. About nine years ago the Americans took mackerel mostly with 

 hook and line. They also took some with purse seines. The Ameri- 

 cans, ever since I have known them, took codfish with trawls, except 

 on the Labrador coast, and I have known the way in which they carried 

 on the cod fishery for thirty-five years. I have often on the Banks, iu 

 a clear day, counted from twenty-five to thirty vessels, most of whom 

 were Americans, engaged trawling. These vessels carried from six to 

 seven thousand |hooks each, and threw the gurry of their fish over- 

 board, which is very injurious to the grounds. They also, by trawling, 

 take the mother fish, which is not done to any great extent in hand- 

 lining. It is only within four years that our vessels commenced trawl- 

 ing. They have done so in order to compete with the Americans, and 

 know it is injurious to the fishery. There are at least from thirty to 

 forty vessels engaged in trawling out of Lunenburg County. The Amer- 

 icans take herring inshore with seines. 



7. In my experience the Americans took fish wherever they could catch 

 them, whatever the terms of the treaty were. They made off from 

 the shore when a cutter was in sight and returned when she disappeared. 

 I was in the North Bay when the fisheries were protected by a Captain 

 Campbell, in the Devastation, and we then took better fares. 



8. In my opinion, the inshore catch of fish is of much greater value 

 than that of those taken outside. 



9. I have seen the Americans when they had not the right of fishing 

 inshore throw bait overboard to entice away the fish ; when they got 

 the fish outside they commenced taking them. 



10. I have seen the Americans catch squid at Causo, Crow Harbor, 

 Cheticamp, and other places within three miles of the shore, for codfish 

 bait. They take this bait in the bays and harbors all along the Cana- 

 dian coast. The Americans buy herring and mackerel for bait from 

 the Magdalenes to Cape Sable in the bays and harbors of Canada. They 

 buy this bait because it saves time, trouble, and expense. This privi- 

 lege of getting bait interferes with Canadian bankers. 



11. There are large quantities of codfish, halibut, haddock, hake, and 

 pollock taken within three miles of the shore by Canadian fishermen, 

 and thousands of our people depend upon these fish for a livelihood in 

 Canada. 



12. The herring fishery in Canadian waters is all inshore. The Ameri- 

 cans purchase them early in the season for bait, as already stated. 



13. When in the American markets, about twenty years ago, I found 

 that Canadian fall mackerel were much superior to American. 



14. The privilege of transshipping cargo is of great advantage to 

 Americans, as by this plan they save time and catch more fish. It is 

 worth at least two thousand dollars to each vessel which does so. 



15. The Americans get bait in Canadian waters inshore, and without 

 this bait and ice, which they also get from Canadians, they could not 

 carry on the deep-sea fishery around our coast. The bait must be fresh, 

 and ice is necessary to keep it thus. 



16. I have never known nor heard of any Canadian vessels fishing in 

 American waters, and I consider this right of no value. 



17. I consider that it would be a great benefit to Canadian fishermen 

 if the Americans were excluded from our inshore waters, and I know of 

 no benefit whatever that we derive from American fishermen. 



EDWARD HIRTLE. 



