AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1333 



about the same. The increase of codfish in iny opinion in greatly due 

 to the fact that the Amerians have retired from our waters. 



15. I have heard American fishermen say that our number one mack- 

 erel was superior to theirs, and reached a higher price in their market 

 than their own. 



16. Mackerel feeds on shrimps, lannce, and fry of other fish. The 

 food of mackerel is all inshore; that is what keeps mackerel inshore on 

 these coasts. 



17. It is a great advantage for Americans to be able to land on our 

 shores, and to dry their nets and cure their fish. 



18. It is a great advantage to Americans to be able to transship their 

 cargoes, because it enables them to remain on the fishing grounds and 

 to double their fares. 



19. It is a great advantage to Americans to be allowed to procure bait 

 inshore by catching it, or by buying it; and if they buy, it is because 

 it is more profitable to them. 



20. It is not an advantage to us to be allowed to fish in American 

 waters. 



21. The privilege of the Americans of transshipping their cargoes on 

 our inshores is worth to them another voyage, perhaps two. 



22. The Americans would not carry on halibut or cod fishery profit- 

 ably in our waters if they were not allowed to procure bait in our in- 

 shores. 



23. The privilege of being allowed to get bait inshore for cod or hali- 

 but fishing by the Americans, is equal to their fisheries of cod and 

 halibut. 



24. The fishing by the Americans in our waters injures our fishing 

 operations greatly, because it brings in a competition that we cannot 

 sustain, the Americans being so well supplied and fitted out with 

 vessels and fishing gears, that on the fishing grounds they take the 

 best fish. Besides, with their large seines seining for mackerel, as I 

 have seen them in Gaspe Bay, have prevented our fishermen from 

 taking bait for cod-fishing. 



25. The Americans being allowed to catch their bait themselves, this 

 practice is an injury to our own fishermen, because it restrains their 

 'trade of bait. 



GEORGE DUMABESQ. 



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

 River, county of Gaspe, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, this 

 31st day of Julv, 1877, before me. 



N. LAVOIE, 

 Justice of the Peace, Province of ({uthac. 



No. 204. 



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



of Washington. 



I, ALEXANDER CAMPION, of Magdalen Eiver, county of Gaspe, Prov- 

 ince of Quebec, fisherman, make oath and say as follows : 



1. Am acquainted with all the fisheries on this coast for the last thirty 

 years. 



2. From 1854 to 1866 the fishing by the Americans has been ven 

 tensive for mackerel between Cape Chat and Magdalen River, a 



of 63 miles. 



