AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1259 



2. About eleven years ago, when in tbe Bay of Chaleurs, I saw in 

 Malpeque Harbor, Prince Edward Island, about seventy sail at one 

 time, all American fishing vessels. Last fall I saw around Port Hood 

 about seventy sail of American vessels at one time. American macker- 

 elmen average about fifteen men. I have seen as many as thirty men 

 in one American mackerelman. American codfishmeu carry from twelve 

 to twenty men. Mostly all the mackerel is taken inshore, and I would 

 not give a pin for all taken outside of three miles. 



3. The Americans averaged about from five to six hundred barrels of 

 mackerel in the season to each vessel. American cod-fishermen take 

 from one to three thousand quintals to each vessel. American mack- 

 erelmen make about three trips, cod-fishermen the same. 



4. Mackerel, in my experience, have often varied. About fifteen years 

 ago they were very scarce ; since that time they have often been plenty. 

 Some years they strike in very* plenty, other years they are scarce, and 

 this is my experience for forty years. Herring fishery remains about 

 the same. Codfish can always be had if bait is plenty. 



5. Americans take mackerel inshore mostly with hook and line ; and 

 I have seen Americans within three miles of the shore at Cascuinpec, 

 Prince Edward Island, use purse seines, about eleven years ago. The 

 Americans carry on cod and halibut fishing mostly by trawling, some 

 with hook and line. 



6. The Americans throw overboard the offal of the fish when codfish- 

 ing, and particularly the sound bone, which is very injurious to the fish 

 and fishing-ground, and I have myself caught large codfish with the 

 sound bone in them, and they were reduced to mere skeletons. 



7. The Americans, in my experience, always fished inshore when they 

 could for mackerel. I have seen them fish in so close to the shore that 

 their vessels grounded. When a cutter hove in sight they got away as 

 quickly as they could, and came inshore again whenever the cutter was 

 out of sight. Out of Lunenburg County, about fifteen years ago, there 

 were from thirty to forty vessels engaged in mackerel-fishing, and when 

 this fishery was protected by cutters our vessels made good fares. Since 

 the Americans have been admitted to the inshore fishery our vessels 

 have done very poorly. 



8. The inshore fisheries are of much greater value than the outside 

 fisheries. The inshore fisheries are worth four times that of the outside 

 fisheries. 



9. About fifteen years ago I have seen American vessels fishing for 

 mackerel in the back harbor of Lunenburg, and I have baited an Ameri- 

 can vessel in this harbor about five years ago. Other parties have often 

 baited American vessels in the harbor. The Americans mostly purchase 

 the bait they get, in order to save time. 



10. In the North Bay I have seen Americans catch codfish inshore, 

 and large quantities of codfish are taken inshore by Canadian fisher- 

 men, and also halibut. 



11. Since 1871 fish have fallen off somewhat. This, I think, is owing 

 to the large number of Americans who visit our shores to take fish. 



12. The herring fishery is all inshore, and the Americans buy them 

 from our fishermen in order to save time, as also do the vessels which 

 we fit out ourselves in order to save time. 



13. The run of mackerel is sometimes of better quality than at others. 

 When our run of mackerel is good it cannot be beaten, and three falls 

 ago I was in Boston market with our mackerel, and it was much superior 

 to any mackerel which I there saw. 



