1768 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



near the head of the Bay of Fuudy, follow down the eastern shore of 

 that bay to Brier Island, at the very extremity of Digby Neck, a strip 

 of rocky soil, averaging one or two miles in width, which forms the 

 barrier between the Bay of Fundy and St. Mary's Bay, a bay six miles 

 in width at Petite Passage. From Brier Island go to the head of St. 

 Mary's Bay thirty miles, and follow the sinuosities of the opposite coast 

 to its month, and proceed southwardly along the shores of the old French 

 settlement of Clare toward Barrington that ancient town which was 

 founded by fishermen from Cape Cod, who settled there with their fami- 

 lies in 1763. Here is a coast line on the western part of Nova Scotia 250 

 or 300 miles, including the whole length of Digby and Annapolis Counties, 

 with the finest zones and currents and temperature on the globe for a great 

 fishing-ground, swarming within three miles of the shore, as you will find 

 by turning to the 413th page of the British evidence, with codfish^ Jiaddock, 

 pollock, halibut, herring, and mackerel. In 24 hours, with the Speedwell, 

 Professor Baird would extend the list of edible fish very much. It is 

 true, we did not call witnesses from every part of this coast. It would 

 have occupied too much. time. We did, however, produce sufficient evi- 

 dence. Take Brier and Long Islands about 14 miles in their entire 

 coast line. These islands are within about five or six hours' sail of the 

 United States, and will in a few mouths be almost connected by rail, 

 after you cross St. Mary's Bay, with Halifax. The inspector of fisheries at 

 Brier Island, Holland C. Payson, who was cross-examined by Mr. Dana, 

 has carefully collected information. The people of these two islands 

 alone catch "$200,000 worth of fish annually. It would be fair to put the 

 catch of that entire coast at three millions and a half. Ezra Turner, 

 from Maine, whose testimony is to be found on page 235 of the Ameri- 

 can evidence, and who has fished in the British waters for thirty or 

 forty years, swore that Maine is bankrupt in the fisheries from end to 

 end. This is corroborated by a number of American witnesses, and by 

 the official records of the nation. 



In the American Answer it is claimed that the poor people of our fish- 

 ing vi'lages are saved from destitution by the American fishermen. Mr. 

 Payson and Mr. Kuggles the latter a descendant of the celebrated 

 General Kuggles say their people do not pay a cent of poor-tax. The 

 almost destitute fishermen from the bleak coasts of Maine and from 

 New England, since the Treaty of Washington, during the last four years 

 throng these friendly neighboring coasts of ours, and from these two 

 islands alone they carry away annually from one-third to one-fourth as 

 many fish as are caught by the inhabitants say $50,000 worth. They 

 come with small vessels, which ibey haul up or anchor, and they estab- 

 ih themselves on the shore and carry on these fisheries side by side 

 with their Canadian brethren. This exercise of the right is gradually 

 growing annually. 



These American fishermen admit their distressed condition at home, 



the great advantages they enjoy by access to our coasts. These 



H ot ours, with those on the New Brunswick shore, including the 



I Manan, are a great blessing to our neighbors. This is no fancy 



Here is a list of the affidavits filed to establish the facts. 



Here are the facts from fourteen men, whose statements could have 



been fully sifted: 



The Ntaten.ents of Holland C. Payson and Mr. Ruggles as to the value 

 id extent of the fisheries in the Bay of Fuudy and the southern coast 

 ot iNova Scotia are corroborated by the affidavits of 



55. Joseph I). Payson, Westport, Digb.v County. 

 W7. Livingston Collins, Westport, Digby County. 



