1710 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



study of these learned professors, and the practical experience of these- 

 United States roasters of vessels, combine to prove the vast source of 

 wealth now existing in the Newfoundland waters, and the probability, 

 nay, almost certainty, of there being still a richer mine of fishery-wealth 

 than is apparent from their presentpartially developed state. My learned 

 friend, Mr. Dana, admits the cod fishery to be the great fishery of his 

 countrymen, and, quoting the late Mr. Howe, he alleges the impossibility 

 of its depletion. 



I now come to the question of bait-fishes, and the taking of them by 

 Americans on the coast of Newfoundland. It was attempted to be shown 

 by my learned friends on the other side that salt bait is better and less 

 expensive than fresh. In the establishment of either of these positions 

 a very short review of the evidence of their own witnesses will show that 

 they have utterly failed. Major Low, put forth as an important witness 

 upon this subject, had been one year fishing in the gulf, three years fit- 

 ting vessels for the fishery, two years a warrior, then a town clerk in 

 Gloucester, and now an official in the post office. Such a variety of oc- 

 cupations, no doubt, gave him knowledge to speak with authority. He- 

 produces from the books of Mr. Steele an account of a cod-fishing voy- 

 age in the Pharsalia, in 1875 (p. 360, Appendix L), fishing with fresh 

 bait; and another account of a vessel, the Madame Koland, in 1873 (p. 

 363, ibid), fishing with salt bait, and because the result of the Madame 

 Koland's voyage in 1873 realized more than that of the Pharsalia in 1875, 

 this, in the major's opinion, is clear, conclusive evidence that salt bait 

 is better than fresh. But did it never occur to him that the cod fishery 

 in one year might be very prosperous, and in another unsuccessful ? 

 that two vessels in the same year might fish very near each other, even 

 with the same appliances, and that one might be fortunate and the 

 other not so ? But the gallant major then makes a great discovery, that 

 in the fresh-bait voyage there are some damaged fish, and he at once 

 jumps to the conclusion that it is because fresh bait is used. Here is 

 the evidence in answer to my learned friend, Mr. Dana (p. 362) : 



Q. Itefore you leave that, I want to ask you in reference to an item there " dam- 

 aged codfiBh T" A. 13,150 pounds of damaged cod at 1 cent, $131.50. 



Q. Why should there be this damaged codfish ; what is the cause of it! 



[Here the gallant major desires to make a favorable impression, but he evidently 

 !<** not desire to ruin our case entirely, and he answers reluctantly.] A. Well, I have 

 my own opinion of the cause. 



lint he is pursued by my learned friend, and with crushing effect he 

 answers : 



Q. What do you believe to be the cause;? A. I believe the cause is going in so much 

 for freh bait. 



This is terrible. 



Q. How Himiild that damage the codfish ? A. My opinion is that the salters salted 

 t with the idea that they would not go in so much, and didn't put so much salt on it. 

 went into port so much, going into the warm water it heated. 



Hut upon cross examination, he says (p. 394 and 395, ibid.): 



g. Now look at the trip of the I'harsalia, at which you were looking just now. A. 

 I have it before me. 



.t Q .' . Yo ? T Uu ' rt ' ' 8 au item head <l " damaged fieh, at one cent a pound." You see 

 that T A. zee. 



i y \. X 'I 1 you lin< V" the tri P-book, which you presented here, another case of a Grand 



ihiDf.TMMl hHhing with fresh bait, where there has been any damaged fish for 



theee three yearn, 1H74, 1*75, and ld7G f-A. The schooner Knight Templar. (Reads 



* ODl ! ltl among other8 au item showing she was on a salt-bait trip.) 

 Q. Then there IH damaged fish on a salt-bait trip ? A. Yes. 



d Mother case on a fresh-bait trip. (Witness refers to book.) 



