AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 135f> 



have heard from the numerous fishermen with whom I have spoken 

 where herring spawn in such abundance as at the Magdalen Island* 



3. The Americans have come to fish for herring round these islands 

 ever since I can remember, and about 20 or 25 years ago they must 

 have come some years to a number of 150 sail or more annually/ 



4. In June mackerel come into Pleasant Bay in great numbers; we 

 then catch them with nets, and we then find them full of spawn. When 

 in August, we fish for them with hook and line we find them spent; 

 they are then beginning to get fat, and recover from the effects of spawn-' 

 ing. 



5. I may also state that the Magdalen Islands are spawning-grounds 

 for the codfish. 



6. The right of fishing in American waters, granted to us by tho 

 Treaty of Washington, is not of the least use to us. I have never heard 

 of one of our vessels going to fish in those waters. 



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

 edge and belief, correct. 



1)1*8 



GABRIEL + CO KM I Kit. 



mark. 



Witness : 



JOHN GALT. 



The said Gabriel Cormier has sworn to the truth of the above afli- 

 davit, at Auiherst Harbor, this twenty-first day of August, A. D. 1#77, 

 before me. 



P. FORTIX, J. /. 



No. 221. 



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



of Washington. 



I, EDWARD A. CONWAY, of Gaspe, in the county of Gaspe, make oath 

 and say as follows : 



1. I am agent at Saint John's for the Messrs. J. & E. Collas, fish mer- 

 chants. I was also agent at Moisie for 2 years before I came to this 

 place. I am in the fish business for the last 7 years. 



2. The principal fish on this coast are the cod, the halibut, mackerel, 

 and herring. All these fish are caught in the inshore limits. At Saint 

 John's we occasionally fish on the banks. 



3. It would be impossible for any vessel to continue to fish on the 

 Banks or inshore waters of this coast without coming on shore for bait, 

 as all our bait is caught within three miles from shore ; in fact all our 

 bait is taken <}lose along ashore. The usual bait lau nee, herring, cap- 

 lin, &c., are taken all the time right on shore. 



4. The right of fishing in American waters is of no value to us ; 

 have no desire to go there, as we have all the fish we can take, if left 

 undisturbed, at our own doors. 



5. The American free market is of no use to us. All our fish is pit 

 pared for and shipped to Brazil, the West Indies, or Europe, 

 time, I have never known of any fish having been sent to the I 

 States. 



I hereby swear that the above affidavit is, to the best of ray K 

 edge and belief, correct. ^ ro\WAY 



