AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1345 



thousand to one hundred thousand pounds of fish each. They carry on 

 the fishing on the above-mentioned banks by trawling and got the bait 

 and ice with which they are enabled to do so principally inSliplbiiriieaml 

 Yarmouth Counties, and without this bait and ice they could not carry 

 on the fishingon the above-mentioned banks. These American vessels 

 are a great hinderance to Nova Scotian vessels, as they have more hooks 

 and are larger vessels and take away the fish from us. The American.* 

 take mostly all their fish on these Banks by trawling ; Nova Scotian 

 fishermen principally by hand lining. Trawling I consider a bad method 

 of taking fish. 



The Americans bring in here their small and scale fish, which they 

 were formerly in the habit of throwing overboard, and find here a good 

 market for them ; these fish the Americans were in the habit of throw- 

 ing overboard. They take away the best fish home with them. The 

 Americans purchase bait and ice in this port and in other ports in thin 

 county. They purchase because it saves time and expense, and it would 

 take a long time to catch sufficient bait. 



WILLIAM LLOYD. 



Sworn to at Lockeport, in the county of Shelburue, this 14th day of 

 August, A. D. 1877, before me. 



DAVID EISEXHAUEK, ./. /. 



No. 214. 



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



of Washington. 



I, JAMES ALEXANDER, of Point St. Peter's, in the county of Gaspu, 

 Province of Quebec, merchant, do make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been acquainted with the various fisheries on this coast for 

 upwards of fifty-eight years. 



2. Previous to and during the existence of the Reciprocity Treaty, a 

 large fleet of American vessels frequented this coast for fishing pur- 

 poses. 



3. I have often seen a great number of American schooners close in 

 Shore catching mackerel, particularly in Mai Bay and the Bay of Clasp*-. 



4. I have seen as many as 50 to 100 sail and upwards of American 

 schooners, for several seasons, mackerel-fishing in this vicinity. These 

 schooners would average upwards of 70 tons each, manned by 10 to 1" 

 men. 



5. The American captains to whom I have spoken stated they gener- 

 ally made good voyages, always making two and often three voyages 

 each season. 



6. These schooners would take on an average from 400 to 500 barrels 

 of mackerel from our shores each trip. 



7. The fisheries are, generally speaking, much the same as heretofore. 

 But the cod fishery has considerably increased this summer. 



8. Mackerel is caught by the Americans both with hand-lines ami 

 seines. 



9. The Americans, previous to and during the existence of the Bed- 

 procity Treaty, took most of their fish inside the limits. 



10. The inshore fishery is by far the most valuable, as herring, i 

 caplin, lance, fully two-thirds of the mackerel, and a great portu 

 the codfish, are taken inshore. 



11. It has been a common complaint with our fishermen that I 



85 F 



