AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 176] 



This would be about two or three hundred yards from shore. I have seen ten thousand 

 halibut a day caught at Anticosti, in water where we could see bottom. This halibut 

 fishery is the, best paying: fishery that I have ever been in. I have made ninety dollars in 

 twelve days as one of the hands at that fishery. 



Jas. Houlette, fisherman, Prince Edward Island : 



1. That I have been engaged in fishing for fifteen years, in vessels belonging to the 

 United States. I have fished all about Bay Chaleur, from Port Hood to Seven Islands, at 

 the Magdalens, all along this island coast, and two years mackerel-fishing on the American 

 shores, and many winters cod-fishing. 



John R. McDonald, farmer and fisherman, Prince Edward Island: 



13. That fihiiiiat all the American fishermen fish close in to the shore of the different prov- 

 inces of the Dominion, and I do not think the Americans would find it worth while to fit out 

 for the gulf fishing if they could not fish near the shore. The year the cutters were about 

 the Americans did not do very much, although they used to dodge the cutters and fish in- 

 shore. 



Aluhonso Gilinan, fisherman, Prince Edward Island : 



7. That when the mackerel first come into the bay, they generally come up toward Bay 

 Chaleur, Gaspe", and round there, passing the Magdalen Islands on their way. It is up 

 there that the American fleet generally goes first to catch fish. 



Joseph Campbell, Prince Edward Island, master mariner, 9 years, 

 United States vessels : 



2. That from the year 1858 to 1867 I was constantly and actively engaged in fishing aboard 

 American vessels, and during that time I fisbe'l ou all the fi-hiug-grounds. 



3. We got our first fare generally in the Bay Chaleur. Fully nine-tenths of this fare would 

 he caught close inshore, within the three-mile limit. 



Alex. Chiverie, merchant, Prince Edward's Island, formerly fisher- 

 man ; was 20 years in United States vessels. " We fished oft' the north 

 part of Cape Breton, and caught the whole of our fare within three 

 miles from the shore." 



7. That in the year 1867 I was master of a British fishing schooner. The first trip of thai 

 season we fished between the Mira nichi and Bay Chaleur. During that trip the fish played 

 chiefly inshore, about a mile from the shore. At times during that trip I would be getting 

 a good catch, when the American vessels, to the number of fifty or sixty, would come along, 

 and by drawing off the fish spoil my fishing. During that trip the Americans, I would BJ, 

 caught fully three-fourths of their fare within the three-mile limit. 



Nathaniel Jost, master mariner, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia: 



2. I have also seen many American mackerel-men engaged in taking mackerel around 

 the cost of Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and eastern side of New Brunswick, and 

 many of these fished inshore. I would say that there were at least four hundred American 

 vessels around the before-mentioned coasts taking mackerel. During the past two years I 

 have seen at one time in sight five American vessels engaged in taking codfish ou the 

 southern coast of Nova Scotia, and a great many in sailing along: and at Sable Island this 

 spring I have seen from fifteen to twenty in sight at one time, engaged in taking codfish. 



Benjamin Wentzler, fisherman, Lower LaHave, Nova Scotia: 



1. I have been engaged in the fisheries for twenty-seven years, up to eighteen hundred 

 and seventy-five inclusive, and fished every year in the North Bay, aroinid Cape Breton, 

 Prince Edward Island, eastern side of New Brunswick, and around the Magdalen*. I have 

 taken all the fish found in the waters on the above-mentioned coast. I am also well ac- 

 quainted with the inshore fisheries in Lunenburg County. I have seen often more than a 

 hundred American vessels fishing on the above-named coasts in one flwjt together, and I 

 have seen these vessels make off from the shore when a steamer appeared to protect the fish- 

 ery, and when the smoke of the steamer could not be seen they came in again to the shore. 

 Such large numbers of them made it dangerous for Nova Scotian fishermen, and I have 1 

 many a night's sleep by them, in order to protect our vessels. I have seen in Port II 

 harbor about three hundred sail of American vessels at one time, and it is seldom, il 

 that a third of them are in any harbor at one time, and I have been run into by an Arm 

 schooner at Port Hood Harbor. From 1871 to 1875, inclusive, I have seen the Amen 

 in large numbers around Prince Edward Island, eastern side of New Brunswick. 

 Cape Breton. I have seen many American vessels ou the above-mentioned coast 

 in taking codfish. 

 lllF 



