AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1313 



injurious to our cod-fishery. It gluts the fish, and they won't bite on 

 the lines. It floats away with the tide and draws the tish off after it. 



4. In 1854, and during the continuation of the Reciprocity Treaty 

 and years of the license system, a large number of American mackerel* 

 fishing vessels were seen all along this coast. They used even to fish 

 in among our boat-moorings for mackerel. I have seen at one and the 

 same time about 30 American mackerel schooners in this neighborhood. 

 I have counted 100 sail in different ports in view at the same time, and 

 I believe that the total annual number that visited this coast during the 

 time named was between 400 and 500. Many of them made two Trips. 

 Their tonnage would average from 50 to 150 tons, with from 15 to L'6 

 men, and they took from 400 to 800 barrels. The most of this lish was 

 taken within the three-mile limit. Since the beginning of the Treaty of 

 Washington a considerable number continued to fish for mackerel in our 

 inshores. I should estimate the number to have been from one to two 

 hundred. The habit practiced by the Americans of coming in among 

 our boats fishing for mackerel close inshore, and by throwing out large 

 quantities of bait, thus baiting the mackerel away outside of the reach 

 of our boats, was exceedingly injurious to us and our fishermen. 



5. The mackerel spawn along this coast, and the Bay of Gaspe in par- 

 ticular I have seen alive with the mackerel-fry. I have seen the same 

 thing along the coast. 



6. The fattest mackerel are always closest to the shore, because there 

 they find the most bait ; and this is the case with every kind of fish. 



7. The right of fishing on the American coast is of no use to us. We 

 don't want to fish there, and I never knew of any vessel from here hav- 

 ing gone there to fish. If there is any fish there, why do they want to 

 come here and fish ? 



8. Our fish being prepared for warm countries will not find a market 

 in the United States, so that the right of selling our fish duty free in 

 the United States is of no use to us. 



9. The right of fishing in our domestic waters, of drying fish on our 

 shores, of taking bait along our beaches, and of transshipping cargoes 

 in our harbors, is a very great privilege to the Americans and of great 

 value to them. It is also a very serious loss and inconvenience to us. 



10. Our population is rapidly increasing, and we require all our fish- 

 eries for our own fishermen. If the Americans continue to disturb our 

 waters and drain our fisheries in front of our very doors, many of our 

 young men will have to emigrate. 



11. Many times I have known people on this coast obliged to keep in 

 their houses, and in some cases to arm themselves for protection, to de- 

 fend themselves from American fishermen on drunken sprees along 

 shore. They also used to commit trespass, break down our fences, and 

 overrun our fields. I have known of two young girls having been car- 

 ried off on American vessels against the wishes of their parents. 



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

 edge and belief, correct. 



JAMES ROONKY. 



The said James Rooney has sworn to the truth of the above affidavit 

 at Perce, in the county of Gaspe and Province of Quebec, this thirteenth 



day of August, A. D. 1877, before me. 



P. FORTIES J. P. 



83F 



