1698 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. In quite the same ratio? A. Yes. 



O. To what extent did you say the number of boats had increased 100 per cent. ? 

 A. I would say that this has been the case within the last ten years. 



" One hundred per cent.," says Mr. Campion, from Prince Edward Island, 

 He says this increase has taken place within the last ten years, but he 

 does not undertake to define how far that increase began before 1866, 

 whether it continued in the interval between 1866 and 1871, and how far 

 it was resumed afterward. But we find that five years after the conclu- 

 sion of the Washington Treaty the boat-fishing had increased one hun- 

 dred per cent., and we know that it is the freedom of trade in fish that 

 has made the boat-fishing of those islands ; that has brought about their 

 increase in size, which every witness has testified to who has been asked 

 the question. I do not know whether my learned friends have asked 

 the question or not, but we have asked it, and it having been testified to 

 by two residents there, Mr. Hall and Mr. My rick, and the Government 

 of Great Britain having had ten days allowed them to bring rebutting 

 testimony, brought none, we may, therefore, consider that matter as 

 settled, that their growth has been largely in boat-fishing in the num- 

 ber of boats, the number of men employed, the quantity of the catch, 

 and the amount of capital invested and that an examination will show 

 that it is to the freedom of trade in fish that they owe it entirely. 



I will read a few words to your honors from Mr. Hall's testimony, who 

 has very large experience, living, or if not living, doing business, on the 

 northern part of the bend of Prince Edward Island : 



Q. The boat fisheries of Prince Edward Island have increased and flourished very 

 much for the last few years ? A. Yes, very much. They have good reasons for it. 



Q. What reasons f A. A better class of fishermen. When we first started business 

 we had, of c-ourse, to work with green hands. Like every other business, it has to be 

 learned, and men have to be prepared for it. Then when the duties were put on, the 

 beet fishermen left us and went aboard American vessels. They could ship from the 

 i-lan<l or go to Gloucester and get good vessels and have their fish go into the United 

 States and sell for their whole value. We had no market and had inferior men. Now r 

 since we have a free market, these men have been coming back. The character of the 

 men and their ability to fish has increased very much. So much so that I honestly 

 think you can calculate the catch of the same number of men now at 25 or 33 per cent. 

 more than it was formerly. 



t/. To what do yon attribute this greater supply of boat fishermen and better qual- 

 ity T A. These men find they can fish here. This is their home in many cases. A great 

 many get boats and find they can do very well here now fishing, and they stock at home 

 and fish from the shore. 



Q. Now if the island were cnt off from the United States market, what would become 

 of this boat fishing, and what would become of the fishermen f A. Well, these fisher- 

 men would probably go back to their old business. I would not want to fish if I had 

 to pay the duty on mackerel. (American Evidence, p. 483.) 



^ Then we have the testimony of Mr. James E. McLean, of Souris, Prince 

 Edward Island, called by the other side, and coming from the strongest 

 point in favor of compensation, that is, the bend of the island: 



We had to pay $2 a barrel duty on the mackerel we sent to the United States, and 

 men would not stay in the island vessels when they saw that the Americans were 

 allowed to come and fih side by side with the British vessels, and catch an equal share 

 i ; of court*; this was the result. The fishermen consequently went on the Ameri- 

 can veel ; our best men did so, and some of the best fishermen and smartest captains 

 among the Americans are from Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. 



There has been put into my hands what may be called an "account 

 stated on this subject of the balance between what is gained by the 

 provinces by the removal of the duties, and what we gain by the exten- 

 sion of your right to fish. The principle on which it is made up is most 

 unfavorable to us; 1 do not think it is a sound one, but some persons 

 may. At all events, it is the most unfavorable to us. 



