1320 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Xo. 193. 



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



of Washington. 



I, MESIAH TAPP, of Fox Kiver, county of Gaspe, Province of Que- 

 bec', fisherman, make oath and say as follows : 



1. 1 am acquainted with all the fisheries that are carried on on this 

 coast for the last 25 years. 



2. From 1854 to 18GG the fishing by the Americans was very exten- 

 sive for mackerel. 



3. About loO American mackerel-fishing vessels have visited these 

 shores yearly during the period mentioned above. These vessels aver- 

 age above 05 tons, having about 16 men for a crew. These vessels 

 carried away from our shores yearly about 400 barrels of mackerel a 

 trip. 



4. The Americans take mackerel by means of seines and hand-lines. 



5. The practice of throwing fish offals overboard, as done by the 

 Americans, is injurious to the fisheries, because it gluts the fish, poisons 

 the water, and kills the eggs. 



(J. The Americans have always fished inshore here during the Reci- 

 procity Treaty for mackerel, about one-half mile from the shore. 



7. The inshore fisheries are of much greater value than the outside. 

 All the fish here are taken inshore. 



8. I have seen the Americans come in among our boats, and by throw- 

 ing bait entice the mackerel away with them; and I saw them one time 

 throwing ballast rocks at a boat that had gone too near their lines. 



9. Since 1871 the cod fishery has increased greatly, and I believe it 

 is owing to the absence of Americans from our waters. 



10. J have heard the Americans say frequently that our mackerel 

 were better, and brought a higher price in their markets than their own. 



11. Mackerel breed and feed on this coast inshore. Their food is launce 

 and sea-fieas. 



12. It is a great advantage to the Americans to be able to transship 

 their cargoes, because it enables them to keep on the fishing grounds, 

 and to double their fares. 



13. It is of no advantage to us to be able to fish in American waters, 

 and I don't know of any vessel from here ever going there to do so. 



14. The privilege of transshipping cargoes to the Americans is worth 

 a load, and the privilege of getting bait in our inshores for their cod and 

 halibut fisheries is worth these fisheries. 



15. The fishing by the Americans in our waters hinders the fishing 

 Gyrations of our Canadian fishermen, because they are better supplied 

 and geared than we are, that they take all the best fish. 



his 



MESIAH + TAPP. 



mark. 



A. 1). JOIINSTONE. 



Sworn to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief, at Fox 

 iiver, County of Gaspe", Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, 

 this 31t day of July, A. I)., 1877, before me. 



IS. LAVOIE, 

 Justice of the Peace, Province of Canada. 



