AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



1291 



have to pay. The six United States fishing-vessels that paid light-dues 

 at my office the past two years, are the following: 



These vessels purchase fresh bait from our fishermen in Fortune Bay. 

 Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish from half a mile to four miles 

 from the shore, but principally within three miles along shore. The New- 

 foundland fishery is an inshore fishery. 



The caplin, herring, and squid fisheries for bait are shoal-water fish- 

 eries, and caplin and herrings never taken more than three miles from 

 the shore, and squids rarely taken that distance off. 



I know of no Newfoundland vessel ever having prosecuted the fishery 

 on any of the coasts of the United States of America. 



From thirty to fifty American vessels frequent Fortune Bay in 

 winter for the purchase of fresh herring to be frozen. They do not 

 catch for themselves, but purchase from our fishermen. The average 

 quantity taken by them yearly has been six hundred barrels per vessel. 

 Sometimes a few of these vessels take salted herrings, when they take 

 a much larger quantity. 



I have seen United States fishing-vessels and crews catching codfish 

 on the Newfoundland inshore fishing-grounds, but cannot state the num- 

 ber, having made no records. 



I am not aware whether United States vessels refit in this bay, none 

 of them having transshipped cargo in any Newfoundland port. 



I consider the supply of fresh bait to United States fishermen to be 

 injurious to our local fishermen. 



I consider that the presence of the large number of United States 

 fishermen fishing on the Banks off our coast with fresh bait injures the 

 local catch by reducing it greatJ". 



I think, the scarcity of fish at g our southwest coast this summer 

 has been caused by the iucreasej stnber of American fishermen on the 

 Banks off our coast. 



United States vessels frequently foul nets along the coast, tearing 

 them away and frequently carrying such n ts out to sea, to the great 

 loss of Newfoundland fishermen. In one instance last spring an Amer- 

 ican vessel thus destroyed five herring nets, without compensation to 

 their owners, vessel being unknown. I have reason to know that very 

 considerable damage is done in this way by United States fishing ves- 

 sels to the fishermen of Newfoundland, and especially to those of this 

 bay. 



GEORGE SIMMS, 

 J. P., Stipendiary Magistrate, Grand Hank. 



Sworn before me at Grand Bank. N. F., this 24th November, 1876. 



J. 0. FRASEK, 

 Commissioner of Affidavit*. 



