1770 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



now connected by forty miles of railroad with the magnificent harbor of 

 Sydney. 



James McKay, of Port Mulgrave, inspector of fish, was called and 

 examined as a witness before the Commission. He says, " No one man. 

 stationed in the Gut of Canso can get an accurate list of the vessels 

 that go through there. To do so is a moral impossibility." 



James Purcell, revenue officer at Port Mulgrave, says: "The number 

 of light-dues collected would not be a fair return as showing the actual 

 number of vessels that pass through the Gut of Canso." 



B. M. Smalley, fisherman, of Bedford, Maine, was called on behalf of 

 the United States and examined. I invite the Commissioners to read 

 his evidence: 



Question. Now don't you think the same fish go out and in ? Is it your idea that certain 

 schools keep in one place, and certain schools in another ? Answer. Yes, it is my opinion 

 the mackerel go out and in, and we know they do. But it is my positive idea that the best 

 fish that go into the Bay Chaleurs go through the strait and by Sydney. 



Q. Do you mean the Strait of Canso ? A. No ; the Strait of Belleisle. and come down to 

 Sydney. 



Q. What time T A. Well, they are passing up and down there after the month of August, 

 until they all go out. 



Q. You think these are not the same as you catch off the north of the island ? A. 

 No, I don't. 



Q. Do you think your opinion is general? A. Yes, sir. 



Here are a few extracts from the evidence on file : 



Archibald B. Skinner, inspector of fish at Port Hastings, Cape Breton, 

 has been 32 years engaged in the fishing business, and has been a practi- 

 cal fisherman : 



During the Reciprocity Treaty a large fleet of American fishing- vessels came to this coast 

 during the summer season io carry on a fishing business. The number increased during 

 the treaty, until at the termination a fleet numbering hundreds of vessels were engaged in 

 fishing around the coast of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and the Mag- 

 dalen Islands. These principally took mackerel and codfish, but they took other fish as 

 well. 



A large portion of the American fishing-fleet is now going every year up the eastern side 

 of Cape Breton, and fishing in the vicinity of Seaterie, Cape Nortb, 'and the sections around 

 there. I understand that these grounds are very rich in fish. 



To reach these localities they are under no necessity whatever of 

 passing through the Gut of Causo. They may, directly after they come 

 from the Bay of Fuudy, either pass along the coast of Nova Scotia and 

 reach the Gulf by way of the northern part of Cape Breton, or pass 

 north in the vicinity of Newfoundland. 



George C. Lawrence, merchant, Port Hastings : 



Not nearly all the American fishing-vessels passing through the Straits of Canso are noted 

 eporu-d. A great number pass through every year that have never been noted or reported 



The Newfoundland herring-fleet from American ports go thither along the eastern side of 

 iton instead of passing through the straits, and toward the latter part of the season 

 Urjfw qtumitiefl of the most valuable mackerel are taken by Americans on the eastern shore 

 CIH- Brrton, between Cape North and Louisburg, and thereabouts. 



Alex. McKay, merchant, North Sydney, Cape Breton: 



None of the codfish-vessels, to my knowledge, go through the Strait of Car.so. They 

 c r'>'i<] the southern and eastern coast of Cape Breton, and many mackerelmen do th 

 jCkerelmen fish around by Scaterie, and it is therefore shorter for them to come 

 round by the southern and eastern sides of the Island of Cape Breton. 



James McLeod, master mariner, Cape Breton : 



LMI summer I fished from Cape North to Scaterie, during the cod season, and saw at that 



m great numbers of American fishermen there engaged in fishing. Within the last two 



seon many American fishermen, from Cape North to Scaterie, engaged in 



mackerel fishing, and have seen at one time between twenty and thirty American fishermen 



engaged within sight, and think that there would be in that vicinity at one time about 



one hundred. 



