1608 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



mainland, but within three miles of the island shores; and just there is 

 found water deep enough for vessel-fishing. Look at the chart, which 

 fullv explains to my mind the inshore fishing at this point. Margaree 

 is a' part of Nova Scotia, and Professor Hind says there is an immense 

 boat-catch all along the outer coast of Nova Scotia, and estimates that 

 of the Dominion mackerel catch Quebec furnishes 7 per cent, (he does 

 not s;v where it comes from), Nova Scotia 80 per cent, New Brunswick 

 :? per Vent., and Prince Edward Island 10 per cent. Considering the 

 fart that the preponderance of the testimony in regard to the mack- 

 erel fishery comes from Prince Edward Island, is it not strange that it 

 does not furnish more than 10 per cent, of the entire catch j that is, not 

 more than 12 or 10.000 barrels of mackerel a year ? But this accords 

 with the report of J. C. Tache, deputy minister of agriculture (pages 43 

 and 4-r. which is the most intelligible report or statistical memoranda of 

 the Canadian fisheries that I have found. It bears date 1876, and in 

 narrow compass, is more intelligible to me, at least, than the separate 

 statements which I am obliged to draw from the large volumes. Mr. 

 Tache says that " the figures of the Fisheries" Report are a very great 

 deal short of the real quantities caught every year, as regards cod and 

 herring, although coming quite close to the catch of mackerel. The 

 reason is, that it is specially from large commercial houses, which are 

 principally exporters of fish, that the information is gathered by the 

 fisheries officers ; then it comes that mackerel, being principally obtained 

 for exportation and held in bond by large dealers, is found almost 

 adequately represented in these returns. 



"NY hen I called Professor Hind's attention to these statements, and 

 remarked to him that we had not heard much said about the places 

 where mackerel were caught in Nova Scotia, he replied it was because 

 there was an immense boat-catch on the coast. If there has been any 

 evidence of United States vessels fishing for mackerel within three 

 miles of the shores, or more than three miles from the shore of the outer 

 coast of Nova Scotia, it has escaped my attention. There is no consid- 

 erable evidence, I do not know but I might say no appreciable evidence 

 of United States vessels fishing for mackerel off the coast of Nova Scotia 

 (I am not now speaking of Margaree, but the coast of Nova Scotia). As 

 to Cape Breton, very little evidence has been given except in reference 

 to the waters in the neighborhood of Port Hood. 



You will observe that this estimate of the Prince Edward Island fish- 

 eries, ten per cent., must be nearly correct. It is larger than the returns 

 of exportation, a little larger than Mr. Hall's estimate, and I think if I 

 *ay that from 12 to 15,000 barrels of mackerel are annually exported 

 from Prince Edward Island, I shall do full justice to the average quantity 

 ish caught there. Now it does seem to me that there has been no 

 vidence that can tend to lead you to suppose that the quantity taken 

 states vessels in that neighborhood since the Treaty of 

 injjton, live years ago, compares at all in magnitude with the 

 quantity taken by the island vessels themselves. 



Theie are some other topics connected with the mackerel catch to 



to call your attention. Remember, gentlemen, always, 



this investigation down to the period of the treaty; and 



live no right to make any award against the United"8tates 



mytbing anterior to the first day of Julv, 1873, or subsequent to 



twelve years later than that. 



Now 1 wish to present some figures relative to the years that have 



islu-ry clauses of the Treaty of Washington took effect. 



That year the Massachusetts inspection of 



