AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1423 



No. 291. 



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



of Washington. 



I, GILBERT MERRITT, of Sandy Cove, in the county of Digby, fish- 

 erman, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have for seven years now past been engaged in fishing in thin 

 county all inshore, off to six miles from the shore. The most of the 

 fish I take is within three miles of the shore. I take codfish, haddock, 

 hake, pollock, halibut, and herring; the latter principally for bait. 



2. Since 1871, large numbers of American vessels come round here 

 to fish, and fish upon our inshore grounds, within three miles of tin- 

 shore. In this harbor many American vessels come. I have seen hen* 

 this last spring from eight to ten American fishing vessels at one time. 

 They buy and catch bait. They cat.ch more than they buy by setting 

 their nets inshore, within three miles of the shore. 



3. These American vessels which come here are from ten up to sixty 

 tons each, and carry from six to twelve men, and are fitted out to take 

 from one hundred to four hundred quintals each. They generally take 

 full fares. 



4. The American vessels which get bait here fish in this bay (St. 

 Mary's), which is here only five miles across. 



5. Last summer and this American purse-seiners were here for mnck- 

 erel, and have hove their seines and taken them here. 



6. Out of this port there are twenty-seven boats engaged in fishing 

 inshore, and three vessels which fish part of the time off shore. The.se 

 boats and vessels carry seventy-four men, and bring their gurry inshore 

 and use it on their farms for manure. The Americans who fish around 

 here on our inshore grounds throw their gurry overboard, which is very 

 injurious to the grounds. 



7. Inside Sandy Cove and the outside Sandy Cove, the latter being 

 on the Bay of Fundy, from eight to ten American vessels fish on our 

 inshore grounds every year. These vessels are of the description 

 already stated. 



GILBERT MERKITT. 



Sworn to, at Sandy Cove, in the county of Digby, this 1st day of Sep- 

 tember, A, D. 1877, before me. 



SAMUEL SAUNDERS, J. V. 



No. 292. 



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



of Washington. 



I, CHARLES W. DENTOX, of Little River, in the county of Digby, 

 fishermen, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been engaged in fishing on the inshore grounds in Digb, 

 County for seven years, and am still so engaged. I have Mways 



the most of my fish within three miles of the shore, and have t 

 codfish, haddock, hake, pollock, and halibut herring we take prt 

 pally for bait. 



2. On the north side of Digby Neck, the place at which * 

 called "Whale Cove"; on the south side of Digby ck t 

 called Little River." 



