AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1713 



Mr. William Ross, collector of customs in this city, says, at p. 349 : 



I think for the successful prosecution of the cod fishery fresh bait is absolutely neces- 

 sary. I should think a vessel using fresh bait would catch at least double the quantity 

 of fish. 



And not to weary the Commission, I will merely add that numerous 

 other witnesses have spoken to the same effect. 



Now, as to the comparative cost of salt and fresh bait, I cannot do 

 better than instance the case of the Pharsalia, as Major Low hns selected 

 her as the most expensive trip, with fresh bait, made by any of Steele's 

 vessels during three years 1874, 1875, 1876. His evidence, at pa^394, 

 United States Evidence, is as follows : 



Q. Well, now, what induced yon to make the selection of this trip as an illustration 

 of the cost of a vessel using fresh bait and going to the Grand Banks f A. Heoause it 

 covered so many ports which she entered, and the different rates charged for ice aud 

 bait. 



Q. Is it not the most expensive trip that is in that book ? A. I think not. 



Q. Turn up the other that is more expensive. See if you can find a more < xpensive 

 trip than that. What years does that book cover? A. 1874, 1875, and a portion of 

 1876. 



Q. Now, is not this the most expensive trip made by any vessel using fresh bait 

 during these years ? (After referring to the book) It may be. From what examination 

 I have made, I think it may be. 



Q. As far as you have gone, you find it to be the most expensive trip ? A. Yes. 



The Pharsalia's trip, therefore, appears to have been the most costly 

 one he could find, as regards fresh bait. 



At page 360 of the United States Evidence it will be seen that the 

 whole cost of fresh bait, for one voyage, according to Major Low's ac- 

 count of the Pharsalia, is $251.97, including ice, port charges, commis- 

 sion to agents, &c. This is certainly much above the average. Now, 

 then, let us see the cost of supplying a Grand Bank cod-fishing vessel 

 Fith salt bait. At page 362, United States Evidence, tbe same witness, 

 quoting from Mr. Steele's books, puts the price of slivers at $8 per bar- 

 rel, and of salt clams at $11 per barrel. Francis Freeman at page 

 80, who has had several vessels upon the Grand Bank fishing, says (at 

 page 82) that the average quantity of salt bait taken by a vessel of 

 from 65 to 80 tons would be 50 barrels. Joshua Payne, another United 

 States witness, who also fitted out vessels for the Grand Bank, says 

 that one of his vessels took 40, another 60, and another 75 barrels. 

 Assuming this average given by United States witnesses themselves to 

 be correct, and accepting the valuation given by Major Low, and the 

 fact stated by him in his account of the Madame Itolaud, that one-half 

 was slivers and one-half clams, we get the following result: 



For a trip with 50 barrels of salt bait : 



25 at $8 $200 00 



25 at $11 275 00 



f!75 00 



For a trip with 40 barrels of salt bait 



For a trip with 60 barrels of salt bait 570 



For a trip with 75 barrels of salt bait "39 



These, then, according to the statements made by United States wit- 

 nesses themselves, are the costs incurred by vessels for their supply ot 

 salted bait, as against $251.97, as shown before, for fresh bait. 



I have, then, clearly established, out of the mouths of their own wit 

 nesses, that fresh bait is superior to salt, and costs far less money, 

 it is quite unnecessary for me to argue as to the comparative value of 

 fresh and salt bait. * We have in evidence, from the American A 

 nesses, the plain, simple fact, that the obtaining of bait from tin- coast 

 of Newfoundland was adopted as a practice about four years ago; that 

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