AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1263 



large extent, they made off when a cutter appeared, and returned when 

 she disappeared. I saw several American vessels seized when I was 

 there during the protection time. The Americans made a practice of 

 running into us, and their vessels were stronger and more numerous 

 than ours, being built of oak. 



6. The Americans get bait and ice along the coast from Cape Sable to 

 Labrador, and without this they could not carry on successfully the 

 Bank fishery. 



JAMES GETSON. 



Sworn to at Getson's Cove, in the county of Lunenburg, this 9th day 

 of August, A. D. 1877, before me. 



JOSEPH W. LOCKHART, J. P. 



No. 138. 



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



of "Washington. 



I, JAMES PUBLICOVER, of New Dublin, in the county of Lnnenburg, 

 fisherman, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been engaged in the fishing for thirty-five years down to 1871 

 inclusive. I have "fished all along the southern side of Nova Scotia, 

 around Cape Breton, on the eastern side of New Brunswick, around 

 Prince Edward Island, around the Magdalenes, and on the Labrador 

 coast. 1 have taken all the fish found on the above-mentioned coasts. 



2. Between eight and ten years ago I have seen in Port Hood Har- 

 bor, at one time, eight hundred sail, of which number over seven hun- 

 dred were Americans. I would be safe in saying that there were over 

 a thousand sail engaged in taking mackerel in one season in the North 

 Bay. Some years I have seen more and some less. These vessels took 

 mostly all the mackerel inshore. 



3. These American vessels carry from twelve to twenty-two hands. 

 They took from four to five hundred barrels of mackerel to each vessel, 

 on each trip. Ran into the Strait of Causo, landed their fish, refitted 

 and went out again. They came in again and took a full cargo for home, 

 often fifteen hundred barrels. They generally made two trips, some- 

 times three. When in the cod fishery in the North Bay, I have seen 

 many Americans also taking codfish. These codfish vessels carried from 

 ten to twelve men, and took from six to eight hundred quintals. 



4. When in the North Bay the fisheries were protected by cutters for 

 some time. The Americans fished inshore when the cutters were out of 

 sight, and made off when a cutter appeared. This was always my experi- 

 ence. I have seen two American vessels made prizes of by a cutter. 



5. The inshore fisheries in Canadian waters, within three miles of the 

 shore, are of more value than the off-shore fishery. I would say more 

 than double. 



C. Our Canadian fishermen catch cod^sh in large quantities around 

 the coast within three miles, also halibut. I have seen many American 

 vessels take codfish on the Labrador coast within three miles of the shore 

 by seining. 



7. For twelve to fifteen years I have taken mackerel in the North Bay, 

 and in my experience they varied in quantity and quality, being some 

 years good and others poor. Mackerel schools have struck into this 

 harbor this year pretty plentifully. 



8. The herring fishery in Canadian waters is all inshore, and they are 



