AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1271 



shores is, in iny opinion, a great advantage to the American fishermen, 

 as is also the privilege of transshipping cargoes of mackerel. 



7. The American cod-fishermen cannot possibly carry on the cod fishery 

 successfully or profitably without procuring bait on Canadian or New- 

 foundland shores. It is also essential to their fishery for them to pro- 

 cure ice on our shores. 



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

 not a cent to Canadians, and 1 never heard of Canadian vessels fish- 

 ing in American waters. 



9. The American cod-fishermen call about twice each season on our 

 shores for bait, and each trip they take about twenty-five barrels of 

 bait by purchase from our fishermen. They find it cheaper to buy it 

 than to catch it themselves. 



SIMON FERRIS. 



The said Simon Ferris was sworn to the truth of this affidavit, at 

 West Arichat, in the county of Richmond, this 2d day of August, A. 

 D. 1877, before me. 



E. P. FLYNN, 

 A Justice of the Peace. 



No. 147. 



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



of Washington. 



I, WILLIAM CRICHTON, of West Aricbat, in the county of Richmond, 

 and Province of Nova Scotia, gentleman, make oath and say as fol- 

 lows : 



1. I have been engaged in the fishery business for about fifty years 

 up to about 1870, and I have a good acquaintance with the fisheries on 

 our coast up to the present time. 



2. I am of opinion that the inshore fisheries are of much greater value 

 than those outside. The herring fishery on our coasts is altogether an 

 inshore fishery. I believe that on our coasts the greater portion of the 

 mackerel are taken inshore. 



3. I believe that our inshore boat-fishery is greatly injured by the 

 Americans coming in and baiting the mackerel, and drawing them oft 

 shore. I am of opinion, also, that the mackerel fishery will be seriously 

 injured by the practice of seining followed by Americans, if this prac- 

 tice is allowed to be carried on. 



4. I am of opinion that the mackerel caught in Canadian waters are, 

 at least, as good as those caught in United States waters, and that any 

 difference of price in favor of American mackerel is owing to the Ameri- 

 can mackerel being better handled and put up than Canadian mackerel, 

 and put into the market fresher. 



5. I consider it a very great advantage to American fishermen to be 

 allowed to land and dry their nets and cure their fish. The transship- 

 ment of cargoes is also a great advantage to the American tnackerelers, 

 who are by this means enabled to make more trips and catch more fish 

 than they could otherwise do. 



6. It is my belief that the American cod-fishermen cannot profitably 

 carry on the cod-fishery without the privilege of procuring bait on the 

 shores of Canada and 'Newfoundland. It is also a great advantage to 

 them to be allowed to procure ice on our shores to keep their bait fresh. 

 They purchase the greater part of their bait from our fishermen as it is 



