1860 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



much more off shore, at other seasons more inshore ; during hot weather they will work 

 more off shore ; the best place for mackerel I have ever seen is on Bradley Bank, about 

 twenty miles from North Cape, Prince Edward Island. Sometimes the Americans when 

 mackerel is plenty will catch about two-thirds of their entire catch outside a line three miles 

 from shore, but striking an average I think that during a season when mackerel is plenty, 

 Americans will catch about one-half outside and the other half iuside a line three miles from 

 shore. 



That is the only part of this affidavit which I need read at present. 



Mr. FOSTER. Remember that Mr. McDonald is a If ova Scotiau. 



Mr. THOMSON. So is Pattilo a Nova Scotiau. 



Mr. FOSTER. McDonald lives there, and his affidavit was taken down 

 there. 



Mr. THOMSON. No matter where the affidavit is taken $ the affidavit is 

 here among those submitted by the American Government, and they 

 mast adopt it as they have put it in. Having obtained this statement, 

 if they did not like to put it in, they need not have done so ; but having 

 put it in, they are bound by it. 



Mr. FOSTER. That is a fair argument. 



Mr. THOMSON. George Critchett, being duly sworn, says: 



I am living at Middle Milford, Guysboro, County, Nova Scotia ; I am 37 years old ; from 

 my IHth year until 4 years ago I have been out mackerel and codfishing mostly in Ameri- 

 can vessels ; I left off iishing because the mackerel-fishing had been poor for several years 

 and is still ; whenever mackerel get to be plenty again I will be out fishing hi vessels. I 

 think that in former years, say from 10 years ago and longer, the average number of the 

 American mackerel fleet was upwards of three hundred during the season ; during the same 

 period about 30 or 40 provincial vessels were in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; the number of 

 American vessels above referred to is intended as the number in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; 

 during the years previous to the last 10 years the average catch of mackerel was two trips 

 for each vessel ; during the last 6 or 7 years they they have scarcely averaged one full cargo 

 during the season. I think that mackerel go where they find the best and largest quantity 

 of feed, and that when the wind is off shore it drives the small fish on which mackerel feed 

 into deeper water, and the mackerel follow them, and whenever there is a big fleet offshore 

 and heave over much bait, the mackerel will follow the fleet. During the years I was out 

 Iishing we did better outside a line 3 miles from shore than inside that line. On an average, 

 I am of the opinion about from half to two-thirds of all mackerel caught by vessels in the 

 gulf is caught outside of a line 3 miles from shore. 



This deponent states that from one-half to two-thirds of the catches 

 were made outside, and thus virtually admits that one-half were taken 

 inside of the three mile limit; this is about as favorable as our own tes- 

 timony. We all know that the language which appears in most affida- 

 vits is the language of the man who draws them up j and this is true 

 in nine instances out of ten ; and undoubtedly the most that they could 

 get out of this man was, that from one-half to two-thirds of the trips 

 were made outside of the limit. 



Mr. FOSTER. He says that during seven years past the vessels have 

 averaged a full cargo during the season. 



Mr. THOMSON. That makes no difference. I only want to see what 

 the catch is. I am not at present discussing any other question. 



Mr. FOSTER. He also states that until the present season only two 

 or three vessels seined in the gulf. 



Mr. THOMSON. That is another point ; and I am only touching on one 

 point at the present moment. 



lu affidavit No. 177, Appendix M, George Bunker says: 



I, George Hunker, do solemnly declare that I am 31 years old ; that I am living at Mar- 

 ' 



ught by 



within three miles from the shore. About half of the mackerel caught by the Americans is 

 caught within three miles from shore. 



