AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1303 



carried ou the fishery at this place. I am practically well acquainted 

 with fishing and all that relates to the fish trade. I know thoroughly 

 all the coast from Gaspe to Paspebiac. The chief Hsh taken on that 

 coast are cod, mackerel, halibut, and herring. The baits are capliu, 

 mackerel, herring, squid, launce, smelt, and clarns. All these baits are 

 taken close inshore. 



2. There are just as many codfish now as there ever were, although 

 many more are taken every year, there being more bo its ; it does not 

 seem to have diminished the number at all. 



3. It is my opinion that the Americans could not fish for cod on the 

 Banks and make profitable voyages without having the right to come 

 inshore to take bait or to buy it. 



4. During the Eeciprocity Treaty and the period of licenses there 

 weie annually a great number of American vessels fishing for mackerel 

 in our inshore waters on this coast. I mean within three miles of the 

 coast. There were from Cape Despair to Paspebiac, annually, on an 

 average, a couple of hundred, I should think, and I have seen as many 

 as sixty sail American schooners at one time in the offing. These ves- 

 sels took the greater part of their mackerel within the three-mile limit. 

 The tonnage of these vessels varied from 60 to 100 tons, manned by 

 from 15 to 18 men. They generally took full cargoes here, carrying ou 

 an average about 700 barrels. The mackerel taken was of a fine 

 quality. 



5. For the first five years of the Treaty of Washington, that is from 

 1871 to 1875 inclusive, I have seen a good many American vessels fish- 

 ing for mackerel on the same grounds and over the extent of coast 

 above described. I estimate their annual number at one hundred (100). 

 They were vessels of the same description as before, and took about the 

 same quantity of fiah. 



6. It is certainly of no value to us to have the right of going to fish 

 in American waters. 



7. The United States free market is of no use to us, for our fish is pre- 

 pared especially for hot climates, where, unless it were extremely dry 

 and hard, it would not keep at all. 



8. I think the privilege acquired by the Americans, through the 

 Treaty of Washington, of resorting to our insh ores and harbors for dry- 

 ing and hauling their nets, getting wood and water and ice, obtaining 

 shelter, and transshipping cargoes, is one of very great value to them. 



I hereby swear that the above statement is to the best of my knowl 

 edge and belief correct. 



WILLIAM O'CONNOR 



The said William O'Connor has sworn to the truth of the above affi- 

 davit, at Little Pabos, this thirteenth (13th) day of August, A. D. 1877, 

 before me. 



P. FOKTIN, J. I\ 



No. 179. 



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



of Washington. 



I, JOHN M. LUCE, of Grande Greve, in the county of (lape, and 

 Province of Quebec, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been engaged on the coast of Gaspe for 10 years. I am man- 

 ager for the firm of Wm. Fruiug & Co., of Jersey, Channel 

 reside at Grande Greve, where we have our principal establishment 



