AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1289 



I know of United States vessels having transshipped cargo in this 

 bay from one vessel to another, so as to make up a load for one vessel 

 dispatched to the United States. The practice in force of seining her- 

 rings for bait for United States vessels decreases the supply of bait to 

 local fishermen. Instances are known of heaps of herrings that have 

 perished from close ''barring," measuring fifteen feet deep; this has 

 been ascertained by measuring with poles. 



The presence of the large number of (he United States vessels fishing 

 on the Banks off our coasts, using fresh bait, greatly reduces the catch 

 of our local fishermen, and I can attribute the short catch of codfish the 

 past summer to no other cause. Codfish will not pass fresh bait, and we 

 all know that the Banks oft" these coasts are well manned by American 

 fishermen. The withdrawal of a large number of American vessels 

 from the Banks this fall is perceptible by an increased catch of fish 

 along our coasts on the occasion of such withdrawal. About five thou- 

 sand barrels herrings averaging forty thousand Irancs, and ten thousand 

 hhds. averaging sixty thousand francs, will be a fair estimate of the bait 

 sold at St. Pierre annually by fishermen belonging to Grand Bank; in 

 addition to which over ten thousand barrels herrings are annually thrown 

 away, being unsalable. 



There is an ice-house at Grand Bank where ice is kept for sale to 

 United States vessels for the preservation of fresh bait, which was used 

 for that purpose last summer. 



GEORGE A. H1CKMAN. 



Sworn before me, at Grand Bank, this 25th day of November, 1876. 



J. O. FRASEK, 

 Commissioner of Affidavits. 



No. 167. 



JOHN LAKE, sr., aged 60 years, planter, residing at Fortune, Newfound- 

 land, maketh oath and saith, that 



1 am acquainted with the fisheries of Newfoundland, by following the 

 same since I was fourteen years of age. I have seen a large number of 

 United States fishing- vessels in this neighborhood; in June and July 

 from six to fourteen daily passed up the bay. These vessels came to 

 purchase fresh bait, which they procured from our fishermen ; the chief 

 supply being from fishermen residing at Belloram, St. Jacques, Bay de 

 North, in Fortune Bay. 



United States fish ing- vessels two years ago fished about Brunette ; 

 two years ago they were fishing between Danjy Cove and Green Island, 

 when one of them nearly lost their dory by a heavy sea, running for 

 shore. 



Before mined by American fishermen, our people used to catch large 

 quantities of halibut off Pass Island; now nothing can be done in this 

 fishery. 



Newfoundland fishermen, as a rule, catch their fish within two miles 

 of the shore. The herring, capliu, and squid fisheries used for bait in 

 Newfoundland inshore fisheries, generally taken along our coves and 

 harbors, squid sometimes at the capes. I never heard of a Newfound- 

 land vessel having engaged on a fishing-voyage on any of the coasts of 

 the United States of America. 



American fishermen have not sold any small fish in this immediate 

 neighborhood; they have done so at Belloram and St. Jacques, in For- 

 tune Bay, and elsewhere, but I cannot give particulars. 



