1286 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION 



No. 163. 



ISAAC MERCER, aged 31 years, residing at Bay Roberts, Conception 

 Bay, Newfoundland, fisherman, maketh oath and saith : 



I am acquainted with the fisheries of this country, by having followed 

 the same for eighteen years. I saw three United States fishing schoon- 

 ers in Spaniard's Bay and two in this harbor last year. I heard of a 

 large number of these vessels being in this bay last year, but I only saw 

 five as above. They came to the bay for fresh bait; the schooners seen 

 by me came for fresh squids, and, as I believe, the other United States 

 vessels that visited this neighborhood last year all came for fresh bait. 

 They came in from the Banks, where they had been fishing, for fresh 

 bait. They purchased bait from our people and jigged squids jointly 

 with our people to supply their wants. Newfoundland fishermen catch 

 codfish generally within a mile or two of the shore. The Newfound- 

 land fishery (cod) is an inshore fishery, as is the bait fishery, including 

 caplin, herring, and squids. I never knew of a Newfoundland vessel 

 fishing on any of the shores or coasts of the United States of America. 



I believe the supply of bait to United States fishermen will act inju- 

 riously upon the supply for local fishermen, and that it will certainly 

 decrease the supply for the latter. 



I believe that the operations of United States fishermen on the banks 

 off our coast, well supplied with fresh bait, tends to reduce the catch of 

 codfish by local fishermen, and that the short catch last year was owing 

 to United States fishermen as aforesaid. The catch of local fishermen 

 in this neighborhood last year was not over one-half what it used to be 

 on the average before 1874. 



ISAAC MERCER. 



Sworn before at Bay Roberts, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, this 

 26th April, 1877. 



J. O. ERASER, 

 Commissioner of Affida vits. 



No. 164. 



SAMUEL FIAXDER, of Coomb's Cove, in Fortune Bay, maketh oath 

 and saith : Is 44 years of age, and a fisherman. I have become ac- 

 quainted with the fisheries of Newfoundland from being engaged in 

 tueir prosecution since I was twelve years of age. 



I have observed a large number of American fishermen in Fortune 

 Bay during the present year, about fifty vessels. The Grace L. Fears, 

 commanded by a Captain McDonald, was one of such vessels; the 

 Edmund Parsons, commanded by Captain Saunders, was another of 

 such vessels, both hailing from Gloucester. I did not particularly re- 

 mark the names of the other vessels referred to. The two vessels named 

 were about 70 tons each, and the others first named were from about 70 

 to about 100 tons. These vessels came to buy bait from British fisher- 

 men, and they did purchase bait as aforesaid. 



I have sold bait to American fishing- vessels. 1 have baited eight such * 

 vessels this present year about fifty barrels each vessel the rate paid 

 lor baiting being from twenty to thirty dollars for each vessel. 



The Newfoundland fishery is an inshore fishery. The capliu and her- 

 rings used for bait are all taken inshore. Squids occasionally are taken 

 a mile from the coasts, but generally they are taken a few hundred 

 yards from the shore. 



1 do not know of any Newfoundland fishing vessel taking fish or try- 



