1408 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



the present season, so far as I can learn, are good, and more American 

 vessels are coming to these parts this season than for two or three years 

 past. 



o. The American fishing-vessels begin to arrive here in May each 

 year for bait to carry on the cod fisheries. In July they come for mack- 

 erel, and continue fishing along the coast until as late as November. 

 The American fishermen are in the habit of throwing offal, &c., over- 

 board, the effect of which is liable to glut the fish and injure the young. 

 About here, so far as I have the means of knowing, Canadian fisher- 

 men are more careful in their mode of carrying on fishing than the 

 Americans. 



6. About two thirds of tbe entire American catch during the Reciproc- 

 ity Treaty was taken within three miles of the shore; and I think since 

 the Washington Treaty the proportion is about the same. 



7. The inshore fisheries are much more valuable than those outside, 

 and the privilege of using them is very important, because when it 

 comes late in the autumn nearly all the fish are taken inshore, and if the 

 American vessels could not fish inshore it would shorten their season. 



8. After the Reciprocity Treaty, the practice of the American fisher- 

 men of throwing bait overboard to entice the mackerel outside was con- 

 sidered an injury to our boat fishermen. 



9. The American fishermen do catch bait within three miles from the 

 shores here to some small extent, both herring and squid ; but the 

 larger portion of the bait used by them now is bought from our people. 



10. It is a great advantage to American fishermen frequenting Cana- 

 dian waters to be allowed to laud ami dry their nets and cure their fish, 

 and it is so recognized by them. 



11. It is also a great advantage to Americans to be allowed to trans- 

 ship their cargoes. It enables them to take more fish and make more 

 trips each season. 



12. The privilege of procuring bait both by catching it and purchasing 

 it in Canadian waters and ports is a great advantage to American fisher- 

 men ; and though they are getting in the habit of buying it rather than 

 catching it, yet this is done simply because they find it more profitable 

 to do so, and not because there is any difficulty or obstacle in catch- 

 ing it. 



13. I do not see how the Americans could carry on the cod and other 

 deep-sea fisheries around our coasts without the privilege, of resorting 

 to our waters and ports to procure bait. It would compel them to make 

 at least one less trip every season, and it would be less convenient for 

 them in every way. 



14. It is likewise a valuable privilege for Americans to be able to re- 

 sort to our ports to procure ice and other supplies and outfits. Large 

 numbers of American vessels are coming to Port Hood every season for 

 this purpose, and I consider it a great advantage to them. 



15. The value of the rights which the Americans acquired by the 

 Treaty of Washington to fish in our waters and to get bait and supplies 

 is very great. I would not fix a money value, but it enables them to 

 fish with much greater facility, to take more trips each season than they 

 could possibly do otherwise. Without these privileges just referred to 

 they would have to abandon our fishing grounds altogether, or nearly 

 so. 



16. The privilege granted to Canadian fishermen to fish in American 

 waters is no advantage that I know of whatever to Canadians. I never 

 heard of a Canadian vessel using these waters, and know of no reason 

 whatever why they should. 



ALEXANDER McDONALD. 



