AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1873 



the prices rose; that the moment that state of affairs was terminated 

 by the Washington Treaty the prices fell again, and we say that is con- 

 elusive proof that the Americans have to pay the duty. There haa been 

 a concensus of testimony, Ameiican and British, upon that point. 



Let us see what the American witnesses say, for I aftlrm that on both 

 sides the witnesses agree in the statement that the consumers pay the 

 duty. It is true that American witnesses who are themselves fishermen, 

 or those who speak the opinion of fishermen, say that they would pre- 

 fer the old state of things. Why ? Because under that state of thing* 

 they could steal into our harbors and carry off our fish for nothing, and 

 then their British competitor was met in the market with a duty of 

 $2 a barrel, while they were free. But I apprehend the consumer did 

 not want that state of affairs. These witnesses admitted that it made 

 the fish dearer, whenever the question was put to them. I have cut out 

 the evidence referring to this point, and I will just read it : 



AMERICAN WITNESSES ON DUTIES. 



Page 75. F. Freeman : 



Q. If you were allowed to make your choice, which would you take exclusion from the 

 British inshore fisheries and the imposition of a duty on colonial -caught fish, or the privilege 

 of fishing inshore in British waters and no duty ? A. I would rather have the duty. 



Q. You say you would rather have the duty paid ; you think you would make more 

 money ; you are speaking as a fisherman ? A. Yes. 



Q. You would have a better market for your fish ? Under the present system the con- 

 sumer gets his fish cheaper, does he not ? You would make the consumer pay tkat $*i dutj f 

 You would sell your fish $2 higher 1 A. Yes. 



Mr. TRESCOT. That is political economy. 



Mr. THOMSON. Why did you ask him ? 



Mr. TRESCOT. I asked him simply which system he would prefer. 



Mr. THOMPSON. I am asking him why. 



Q. And you say the reason is that you would get so much money iu your pocket tl th 

 expense of the people that eat fish. Is not that the whole story .'A. Certainly. 



Page 93. N. Freeman : 



Q. Were you among those who opposed or favored the continuance of the Reciprocity 

 Treaty 1 A. I was among those that opposed it. 



Q. There were some that opposed it, or rather required the duty to be maintained upon 

 codfish ? A. I was one who preferred to have the duty retained upon codfish. 



Q. Upon codfish ? A. Yes. 



Q. Your people wished in fact to keep the duty on codfish ? A. Yes. 



Q. Why? Be kind enough to state why. A. Because we felt it would h* better I 

 as a cod-fishing town to exclude as far as possible the fish from the provinces. It tcomU 

 gite us a better. chance, as we supposed, to dispose of our fish at higher rate*. 



Q. And the effect of the treaty you considered would he to reduce the p 

 supposed that the effect of the treaty would be to bring in codfish from these pro 

 our port, and of course necessarily it was presumed that it would reduce the pru 



Q. I suppose the mackerel fisheries have the same object, to keep up the pru 

 A. I presume they have. 



Q. Then, of course, you think your views are correct T 

 you opinion was correct ? A. Yes. 



Q. And you still continue to think that is correct, and that the effect 

 the treaty is to bring down the price of fish ? A. Yes; I thiuk that is the tend 

 not aware whether it has brought the prices down. 



Q. I mean to say you have not changed your opinion ? A. HO. 



Q. Of course there might be other causes operating, but that is the general t 

 the treaty ? A. Yes. \\-\ 



Q. To make the fish cheaper for the consumer T-A. \Ve bave m 

 perhaps it would have that tendency. We have thought that il 



Q. That is precisely what your opinion wast A. Yes. 



Q. You have nqt altered your opinion ? A. No. 



Q. Your opinion, if you will allow me to put it in my words, is tl 

 to the consumers in the United States /A. My opinion is that it mil , 



118 F 



