1308 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



about a quarter of what it was duriug the Reciprocity Treaty, although 

 there were as many fish then as duriug the Reciprocity Treaty ; but for 

 the last three years the fishing has fallen off. This year, however, they 

 seem to be increasing again. 



"i The throwing overboard of offal is extremely injurious to the fish 

 and fishing-grounds. This is always done by the American fishing- 

 vessels, both in the bay and outside. 



<>. The United States fishermen have often committed depredations 

 on this coast, threatening to do bodily harm to the inhabitants, tramp- 

 ling down the crops, and stealing sheep and potatoes. One vessel tried 

 to run down my brother, Daniel Gavey, and his partner, who were m 

 their boat going codfishing ; this occurred four years ago. 



7. It is my opinion, and I am sure all the fishermen on this part of 

 the coast think so also, that the privilege of fishing in United States 

 waters is of no value whatever to us. 



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

 edge and belief, correct. 



ABRAHAM GAYEY. 



The said Abraham Gavey has sworn to the truth of the above affi- 

 davit at Grande Greve, this tenth day of August, A. D. 1877, before 

 me. 



P. FORTIN, J. P. 



No. 183. 



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



of Washington. 



I, PETER FERGUSON, of L'Auce au Beaufils, county of Gaspe", and 

 Province of Quebec, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I am . r >5 years of age. I was born here and have lived here all 

 my life. I began to fish when I was 15 years of age. I am practically 

 acquainted with the fisheries of this coast. 



li. The fish found on this coast are codfish, herring, mackerel, and 

 halibut; the principal baits are herring, capelin, squid, mackerel, smelt, 

 and launce. The herring spawn abundantly along the coast, and we see 

 great schools of young herring during the summer. Bait is generally 

 abundant; when one fails we get another kind ; we always get bait close 

 inshore, always within the three-mile limit. We find that the codfish is 

 generally as abundant as it was 30 years ago ; but the fishing is more 

 abundant ; according to the state of the weather, and the supply of bait. 

 In L' Alice au Beaufils Cove, where there are 36 boats, the fish is mostly 

 caught within the three-mile limit, very few going to the Bank. Ninety 

 l>er cent, of the fish is taken inside the limit of three miles. 



3. It would not pay an American schooner fishing on the Bank to re- 

 main there fishing without the privilege of taking bait on shore. She 

 could not make a profitable voyage and trust to getting bait on the Bank. 

 I have, several times seen American bankers coming to get bait on shore, 

 and last year one of them employed my neighbor to seine caplin for bait 

 for him. 



4. During the Reciprocity Treaty and the period of licenses, I saw a 

 great many American mackerel schooners along this coast, and several 

 times I have counted as many as thirty between Whitehead and Cape 

 Despair, within the limit. The average number duriug each season was 

 between IMX) ami 1>50. They used both to take the mackerel inside 



