AWARD OF THE FISHEKY COMMISSION. 1453 



for the same kinds of fish as we take. They get their bate inshore 

 withiu a half a mile of the shore by setting nets in which they take her- 

 ring. With this bait they fish off to twenty miles and take codfish, 

 haddock, hake, and pollack, and early in the spring large quantities of 

 halibut by trawling, which is injurious to our fisheries. 



3. These American vessels average from sixty to sixty five tons regis- 

 tered tonnage, and carry from eight to fifteen men each. They take cod- 

 fish, haddock, hake, pollack, halibut, and herring, and fish all along the 

 coast of this county. They take from four to twelve hundred quintals 

 each. They take about 100 barrels of herring to each vessel for bait. 



4. These Americans get all their herring within half a mile of the 

 shore for bait, and without this bait they could not carry on the fishing 

 in this vicinity. The most of them bring their ice with them in which 

 they preserve bait. 



5. These American vessels come here in April to trawl halibut;, and 

 remain on our coast until August, included. 



6. The Americans which come on our coast bring their own supplies. 

 They obtain bait which enables them to carry on the fishing in this 

 vicinity. They have to get a fresh supply of bait every week. 



7. If the Americans were excluded from our coast it would be a great 

 benefit to our fishermen, as their supply of bait would not be interfered 

 with, and fish would be more plentiful. 



8. The right of fishing on the coasts of the United States is of no ben- 

 efit to the fishermen of this county, as I have never known or heard of 

 any of them fishing there while large numbers of Americans come on 

 to our coast to fish. 



THOMAS MILNER. 



Sworn to at Parker's Cove, in the county of Annapolis, this 4th day 

 of September, A. D. 1877, before me. 



JOHN ANTHONY, 

 Justice of the Peace, acting in and for the County of Annapolis. 



No. 317. 



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



of Washington. 



I, JAMES W. CoUbiNS, of Digby Town, in the county of Digby, fish- 

 erman, make oath and say as follows : 



1. I have been engaged in fishing for eighteen years now past, ami 

 am still so engaged. 1 am at present in charge of a vessel of thirty - 

 two tons register, and manned by ten men, and can take five hundred 

 quintals of fish in one cargo. 



2. We catch bait in Annapolis Basin and in the Bay of Fundy, all 

 inshore, within three miles of the shore. American vessels get bait 

 upon the same grounds, by setting their nets and by buying; mostly by 

 setting nets. 



3. We take codfish, haddock, hake, and pollack, halibut and hen 

 the latter for bait. We take this fish from close inshore to ott 

 miles. We get the most withiu five miles of the shore, and I have t 

 year, up to this date, taken in nay vessel nine hundred quintals. 



. 4. The Americans take fish the same as we do on the same 

 Twenty sail at least of American vessels fish on the same ground* 

 do. 

 5. These American vessels are from ten to thirty tons each, am: 



