1674 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



gradually increasing business. One of the witnesses, I recollect, from 

 Gloucester, told us how greatly the trade in codfish had improved, so 

 that now, instead of sending it out as whole fish, it is cut in strips and 

 rolled together, and put into cans, and sold in small or large quantities 

 to suit purchasers, aud in that very easy manner sent all over the United 

 States. 



Charles X. Pew, of the firm of John Pew & Sons, on page 498 of the 

 American Evidence, testified that the total value of fish production in 

 seven years from 1870 to 1876, inclusive, was : 



Bay mackerel 77,995 22 



Shore mackerel 271,333 54 



Codfish, &c 702,873 10 



1,052,201 86 



These figures give what our vessels caught. They do not give what we purchased 

 outside of what the vessels caught. 



The cod fishery is also one as to which there is no fear of diminution, 

 certainly none of its extermination. Professor Baird told us, on p. 456 

 of the American Evidence, that a single cod produces from three to 

 seven million eggs, each one capable of forming another living animal 

 in the plaee of its mother. He said that owing to the winds aud storms 

 to which they were exposed, and by their being devoured by other fish 

 which sought for them, the best information was that about a hundred 

 thousand of these eggs prosper so as to turn into living fish, capable of 

 taking c-are of themselves, the undefended aud unrestricted navigators 

 of the ocean. Although that is not a large percentage of the amount 

 of ova, yet an anuu U increase of a hundred thousand for every one 

 shows that there is no danger of the diminution, certainly none of the 

 extermination, of that class of fish. It is enormous in quantity, some- 

 thing which the whole world combining to exterminate could hardly 

 make any impression upon ; aud when the argument is made here that 

 we ought to pay more for the right to fish because we are in danger of 

 exterminating what codfish we have if that argument is made it 

 amounts to nothing. But if the further argument is made, that we 

 have no cod fishery to depend upon, then we have the statistics, and we 

 have information from witnesses from all parts, that the cod fishery 

 shows no signs of diminution, and that it is as large aud extensive and as 

 prosperous as ever. Gloucester has gone more into the business than it 

 ever has before, aud I do not recollect that there is any evidence, of the 

 least value, showing that that fishery is likely to fall off materially as a 

 commercial product in our hands. There is a single British concur- 

 rence out of several others, I think, in this statement, which I will read. 



George llomeiil, agent of Robin & Co., one of the British witnesses, 

 page 3U6, says : 



Q. In there much difference in the results of the cod fishery year after year ! A. 

 *t M much fish are now caught as ever was the case. 



;mg this statement, you refer to an experience of 2t years f A. Yes. 

 VJ. i* your evidence on this point f A. That the cod fishery is not precarious, 



have tlwaya an average catch T-A. It is always about the same, 

 iishery can always he depended upon ? A. Yes. 



y. J i thorn, who engage in this fishery as a rule make a living T A. A thriving fish- 

 11 ulwajH make a good living about our coast. 



U a fair average man do ?-A. He can always make a good living. 

 I read that, because it is the testimony of an intelligent British wit- 

 ness, who represents one of those great Jersey firms that deal iu codfish 

 on the west coast of the gulf. 

 The bait of the codfish need not be caught within the three-mile line. 



