1280 AWARE OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



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

 July, A. D. 1877, before me. 



JOHN McKAY, J. P. 



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



of Washington. 



I, JAMES PHELAN,of Arichat, in the county of Kichmond, and Province 

 of Nova Scotia, merchant, make oath and say as follows : 



1. During the past twelve years I have been employed or engaged in 

 the fish-trade in this place, and I have a good general knowledge of the 

 fisheries on our coasts. 



2. I believe that our inshore fisheries within three miles of the shore 

 are of much greater value than those outside that distance, and almost 

 all the herring and a greater part of the mackerel are caught within that 

 distance. 



3. The opportunity of transshipping cargoes enjoyed by American 

 fishermen since the Treaty of Washington of 1871 is a great advantage 

 to them, as by means of this they save about fifteen days on every trip 

 to the fishing grounds. When mackerel are plenty, a vessel could get a 

 fare of them in little more than the time it would take to go to her home 

 port in the United States and return. This privilege of course enables 

 them to make more trips and catch more fish than they otherwise could. 



4. I believe that it would be impossible for the American cod-fisher- 

 men to prosecute their calling successfully or profitably without obtain- 

 ing bait on the shores of Canada or Newfoundland, and to keep this bait 

 fresh it is necessary for them also to procure ice on our coasts. Every 

 season American cod-fishing vessels visit this island (Isle Madame) for 

 bait and ice in great numbers. The Americans purchase most of the 

 bait they obtain from our fishermen, as it is cheaper for them to do so 

 than to consume part of the fishing-season in catching it themselves. 



5. The privilege of fishing in American waters is of no advantage 

 whatever to Canadians, and no Canadian vessel has, to my knowledge, 

 availed itself of such privilege. 



G. I believe that the practice of trawling followed by the American 

 cod-fishermen is injurious to the fishery, and that our fishermen could 

 carry on the fishery around our coast more successfully if the Americans 

 were excluded from our waters. 



JAMES PHELAN. 



The said James Phelan was sworn to the truth of this affidavit at Ari- 

 chat. in the county of Kichmond, on the 3d day of August, A. D. 1877, 

 before me. 



E. P. FLYNN, 

 A Justice of the Peace. 

 No. 159. 



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



of Washington. 



I, H. ROBERTSON, of Griffin's Cove, county of Gasp, Province of 

 Quebec, fisherman, make oath and say as follows : 



Am acquainted with all the fisheries carried on on the coast of Gasp6 

 for 30 years past. 



