3224 AWAKD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



lowed the 6shing business for twelve Years, always in American fishing 

 vessels with the Exception of one fishing voyage in a Nova Scotia Vessel 



The Colonial fishermen as a rule catch more Mackerel when alongside a 

 fleet of American fishermen which throw out large quantities of bait, 

 the best and principal bait used for Mackerel is nearly all taken off the 

 American Coast and within three miles of the shore so far as I have 

 ever seen, the bait referred to consists of Fogies and Clams nearly all 

 the bait now used by Colonial fishing Vessels is the bait before men- 

 tioned by me and is taken along the American Coast 



For Number one and two Mackerel, Number One Salmon and fat Her- 

 rings the United States are the only Market with the Exception of a 

 small quantity that go to Canada, of the fat Herrings however more are 

 sent to Canada than of the Mackerel or Salmon 



The average size of American Mackerel and Codfishing Vessels en- 

 gaged fishing on the Colonial Coasts is from sixty-five to Seventy Tons 

 the Catch of Mackerel in the Gulf of St. Laurence during the last six 

 or seven Years has been gradually decreasing, the Season of 1876 be- 

 ing almost a failure in the Catch of Mackerel in Colonial Waters. 



Mackerel for some unknown reasons sometimes appear for Series of 

 Years on some Costs in great numbers and then again for a number of 

 years will appear in decreasing numbers and finally altogether disap- 

 pear. 



Ten Years ago and up to that time there were about two hundred & 

 fifty to three hundred American fishing Vessels passing through the 

 Strait of Canso every season to catch fish in the Chelaur Bay and Coasts 

 of the Gulf of St Laurence Six Years ago there were about two hun- 

 dred vessels, since that time the number has been greatly decreasing 

 until last Year when the entire fleet of Mackerel fishing Vessels in the 

 Gulf of St Laurence was probably not over fifty vessels 



During the Seasons while the catch of Mackerel was very great about 

 a quarter of the fleet of American Mackerel fishermen would land from 

 one to three Cargoes of Mackerel in the Strait of Canso each season for 

 reshipment to the United States. A vessel of Seventy Tons for exam- 

 ple having landed a trip of Mackerel requires or usually takes the fol- 

 lowing supplies before going again to the fishing grounds for another 

 Cargo viz about three hundred Empty barrels worth about Eighty Cents 

 Each from Eighty to one hundred barrels of Salt worth about one Dol- 

 lar and a quarter Each, twenty five to thirty barrels of Bait worth about 

 five to six Dollars which with, provisions and Small Stores about two 

 hundred and fifty Dollars would make in all for the fit out about seven 

 hundred and fifty Dollars and for a Second trip or fit out about five hun- 

 dred Dollars worth of Supplies would be required. The average expend- 

 iture of those American fishing Schooners which visit our Ports with- 

 out landing Cargoes of fish for reshipmeut amount to about five hundred 

 Dollars each per season in our Provinces, the average expenditure 

 therefore of the entire Mackerel fleet of American fishing vessels in the 

 British Provinces during the productive Seasons would be about seven 

 hundred Dollars each pr Season 



In consequence of the decreased Catch of Mackerel during the last 

 six or Seven Year in the Gulf of St Laurence the expenditure of Ameri 

 can fishing Vessels in the British Provinces has been much reduced 



The number of American Vessels engaged in the Codfisheries around 

 the Colonial Atlantic Coasts has more than doubled within the last six 

 Years about one hundred of these Codfishing vessels call at one point 

 or another in the Strait of Canso twice during the Season for a supply 

 of ice fresh bait provisions &c the average expenditure for that purpose 



