AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1337 



in our inshores, eitber by fishing for or buying it. If they buy it, it IK lie- 

 cause they save time, and they find it more profitable to them. 



19. The Americans could not carry on the cod and halibut fisheries 

 profitably if they could not get bait in our in shores. 



20. It is a great advantage to the Americans to be able to procure ice 

 in our inshores to preserve their bait. 



21. It is of no advantage to us to be able to fish in American water*. 



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

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

 halibut fisheries is worth these fisheries. 



23. Fishing by Americans in our waters hinders the fishing oin-ra- 

 tions of our fishermen to a great extent; their vessels are so miu-li 

 better than ours, and their gears also, that tbey take all the best and 

 largest fish. 



CHARLES GAUL. 



Sworn to the best of knowledge, information, and belief, at Douglaa 

 Town, county of Gaspe, province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, this 

 29th dav of July, A. D. 1877, before me. 



N. LAVOIE, 

 Justice of the Peace, Province of (Quebec. 



No. 207. 



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



of Washington. 



I, ROBERT TAPP, of Fox River, county of Gaspe", Province of Quebec, 

 fisherman, make oath and say as follows : 



1. Have been acquainted with all the fisheries which are carried on 

 oil this coast for thirty years. 



2. During the Reciprocity Treaty, from 1854 to 18GG, the mackerel- 

 fishing by the Americans was very extensive on this coast. 



3. During the period above mentioned, about 150 American vessels 

 have visited these shores for mackerel fishing yearly. These vessels 



.averaged about 65 tons, having about 15 men for a crew. They carry 

 away from our shores about 400 barrels of mackerel at a trip, yearly. 

 All that I have seen make two trips in a season. 



4. Cod fishery is about the same as formerly ; herring also. 



" 5. The Americans take mackerel by means of seines and hand lines. I 

 have seen the seines in their vessels, but never saw them using them. 



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

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

 the fishing-grounds, and kills the eggs. 



7. During the Eeciprocity Treaty the Americans have always fished 

 inshore, and very close to the shore. 



8. The inshore fishery is of much greater value than the outside. AH 

 the fish here are taken inshore. 



9. It was the common practice of the Americans to come in amon, 

 our boats, and, by throwing bait, entice the mackerel away with them. 

 They have done this to me several times in a season. 



10. The cod fishery has greatly increased since 1871, owing, 1 bel* 

 to the absence of Americans from our waters. 



11. I have heard the Americans say frequently that our 

 were better, and reached a higher price in their markets, than then 



12. Mackerel feed all along our inshores on lauuce and sea-fleas. 



