AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1721 



selling oil in Newfoundland ports is of importance also as providing necessary fund.-* 

 for the purchase of bait, and for refitting. 



And the latter, at page 31 : 



Deponent bought small codfish and cod-oil from United States fishermen last year in 

 payment of bait, ice, and cost of refitting their vessels; in some instances, deponent 

 purchased small codfish, for which he paid in cash. The total quantity of small cod- 

 fish purchased by deponent last year from United States fishermen was upwards of 

 three hundred quintals, for which he paid prices ranging from eight shillings to eleven 

 shillings per quintal of 112 Ibs., green fish. 



Deponent also purchased a considerable quantity of cod-oil from United States 

 fishermen, particulars of which he has not at hand. 



Also, Kichard (Jashin, page C9, British Affidavits: 



United States fishermen have sold small codfish and cod-oil in this neighborhood. I 

 have purchased codfish and cod-oil from them. The prices paid have been eight and 

 nine shillings per cwt. for green codfish, and two shillings and sixpence per gallon for 

 cod-oil. Eighty quintals fish and two and one-half tons oil is what I purchased. 



And Richard Paul, page 63, British Affidavits : 



American fishermen have sold fish and oil in this neighborhood. I only know of 

 their selling thirty-seven quintals at 7s. per quintal, and seventy gallons of oil at "half 

 a dollar. I understand from their statements the past season, that hereafter they in- 

 tend to sell to our people all the codfish they catch under sJ;J inches iu length. 



Phillip Hubert, sub-collector customs, Harbor Briton, Fortune Bay, 

 page 54 : 



American fishermen have sold small codfish in this bay; some vessels sold one hun- 

 dred quintals, the price ranging from 7 to 10. per cwt., green. 



In addition to which there are numerous affidavits in support of the 

 same fact as regards the general sale of small codfish. 



Previously to the Washington Treaty there had been a duty of $1.30 

 per quintal on fish imported into Newfoundland, which, of course, is 

 now removed, as far as concerns the United States. The utilization of 

 this small fish is unquestionably an important item of gain to them. If 

 there is a benefit to Newfoundland in a free market with the United 

 States it has been reduced to its very minimum by the United States 

 Government taking the tins in which salmon is put up, and by the re- 

 fusal to admit seal-oil, an article of extensive export from Newfoundland, 

 as a fish-oil, although iu their own commercial language it is placed tin- 

 der that category. This, however, I presume, is a matter over which 

 you have no jurisdiction ; neither have you over the question of $128,185 

 duties paid in the United States on fish and fish products imported from 

 Newfoundland between 1871-1874 (referred to on page 173 British 

 Evidence), when the United States were allowed to enjoy the benefits of 

 the Washington Treaty on the distinct understanding that the enjoy- 

 ment should be reciprocal, but which understanding was subsequently 

 repudiated by the United States, and the above-mention'ed amount of 

 duties levied during those years remains unrefunded to the present day. 



There is a ground of defense relied upon by my learned friends oppo- 

 site, as to which I wish to offer one or two remarks. They contend, as 

 I understand them, that the fishermen of Newfoundland are benefited 

 by Americans coming to the coast and trading with the people ; that 

 that trading breaks down a system of business which they allege to 

 exist between the merchant and the fisherman, by which the latter is 



regulations which then existed in St. John's. The memorial i 

 found at (p. 1G7, British Evidence.) 1 will not detain you by reading it. 



