1388 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



caught fish with sound-bones in them in a consumptive state. This 

 offal is also destructive to the spawn. 



7. The Americans made but little difference under any treaty. They 

 fished inshore when the cutters were out of sight, and made off when 

 the cutters appeared. It was reported again and again that the Amer- 

 can vessels carried two registers. 



8. The inshore fishery is double the value of the off shore fishery. 



9. I have often been lee bowed by the Americans. I have often seen 

 them running into Xova Scotia vessels, and I have had my own vessel 

 injured by them. They used to throw overboard bait and take the fish 

 away from us. 



10. The Americans get bait and ice all along our coast ia the bays 

 and harbors, wherever they can get it quickest and cheapest. They get 

 this bait in order to carry on the Bank fisheries, and without this bait 

 and ice it would be impossible for the Americans to carry on success- 

 fully the Bank fishery. 



11. Since 1871, the number of fish has not increased. This is owing, 

 in my opinion, to overissuing and the improper methods employed by 

 the Americans in taking fish. 



12. The Americans, since 1871, have injured Canadian fishermen by 

 taking large quantities of fish by trawling and other improper methods 

 of taking fish. 



13. The herring are chiefly taken inshore, and the Americans pur- 

 chase them for bait in order to save time. 



14. The mackerel feed inshore and make inshore to spawn, and I call 

 them an inshore fish. 



15. I have seen Americans land their fish and then go out on the 

 fishing ground to take more. By so doing they save time and expense 

 and take more fish, as a vessel can carry home more than she can fish 

 with. 



10. It would, in my opinion, be impossible for the Americans to carry 

 on the deep-sea fishery around our coast unless they could procure bait' 

 and ice in which to pack it. They purchase bait in order to save time. 



17. The Americans are mostly all fitted out on leaving home, and only 

 purchase supplies, except ice and bait, when they run short. 



18. I know of no benefit to Canadians in the right of fishing in Ameri- 

 can waters. 



10. The Americans make bait scarce for our bankers, and carry away 

 large quantities of fish from our men. 



20. I have often heard of Americans smuggling goads around our 

 coast, and exchanging them for fish. 



21. If the Americans were excluded from our inshore waters, it would 

 be a great benefit to Canadian fishermen. 



THOMAS EITCEY. 



Sworn to at Lower LalTave, in the county of Luuenburg, this 7th 

 day of August, A. 1). 1877, before me. 



JAMES H. WESTZEL, J. P. 



Xo. LVil. 



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



of Washington. 



I, WILLIAM I). SMITH, of Port Hood, in the county of Inverness, 

 merchant, make oath and say as follows: 



