3100 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



force, it was the custom then to tranship the fish and send them back 

 by freighters, but this is not done now each vessel carries back its own 

 catch to Gloucester American vessels purchase supplies from the 

 Canadians to a great extent, furnishing supplies and shipping on board 

 our vessels as hands for a fishing trip are the principal occupations of 

 the people at Causo. Last year I spent $50.00 for supplies there, and 

 have probably averaged that amount each year Canadians can prose- 

 cute the fisheries in their waters with much less expense than we can, 

 they can build their vessels one-third cheaper, their crews go for less, 

 in all Canadian vessels the skippers per centage is assessed among the 

 crew, while here it is paid by the owners Now that the American 

 market is thrown open to them, they can undersell our fishermen and 

 reduce their profits. Under the old tariff before the Treaty, their share 

 of the trips has been much less valuable 



JOHN. E. GORMAN 



COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 



ESSEX ss GLOUCESTER Feby 2d 1876 



Then personally appeared the above named John Gorman to me 

 known and made oath that all the foregoing statements by him sub- 

 scribed are true upon his own knowledge and belief 



(Seal.) DAVID W. LOW 



Notary Public 

 No. 39. 



I Nicholas Warren of Gloucester in the County of Essex and Com- 

 monwealth of Massachusetts being duly sworn dodepose and say that I 

 have been engaged in the cod and mackerel fisheries for the last seven- 

 teen years have been in the Bay the last six years I have fished very 

 little inshore as I could not do so well there as further out In our fish- 

 ing vessels we cannot follow the mackerel so well as the Canadians who 

 in their small boats come out from the shore Last summer there were 

 very few tishjn the Bay, this has been so for the last few years and the 

 vessels engag'ed in fishing off the American coast have made much bet- 

 ter fares than those which went to the Bay Last season there were not 

 more than forty Gloucester vessels in the Bay out of a fleet of four hun- 

 dred, while ten years ago there would be as many as three hundred from 

 Gloucester alone in the Bay at one time, This was before the seine fish- 

 cry on our own coast became so valuable I have known of seine fishing 

 being tried in Canadian waters, but it has been unsuccessful the water 

 was shallow and the rough bottom tore their nets I have never sold 

 any bait to the Canadians but have known of its being done to a great 

 extent, the bait used by us for mackerel is the menhaden which is not 

 found in Canadian waters and they have to use herring which is poor 

 and not nearly so good for the purpose I have never repacked and 

 shipped any fish home by steamer and I do not consider the clause in 

 the treaty permitting this of any value, ten years ago it used to be done 

 but not now Our trade is a great advantage to the Canadians as we 

 purchase supplies wood &c in great quantities, I have paid as much at 

 $100.00 each year 



The free clause in the Treaty is of great benefit to the Canadians and 

 lias lowered our prices and diminished our profits Canadian vessels 

 have come to this town and sold their fish green here as they had no 

 market ^tor them at home and the received much higher prices here 



The Canadians can build their vessels much cheaper than we can and 

 also they pay their crew much less a mail can be hired in the Provinces 



