AWARD OF THE FIPHERY COMMISSION. 3247 



CONSULATE OF THE U. S. OF AMERICA AT 



PICTOU, N. S., CAPE CANSO AGENCY 



June 16th 1877. 



This is to certify that before me, the undersigned, Oscar Malmros, U. 

 S. Consul for Pictou N. S. and the dependencies thereof, personally ap- 

 peared the above named Solomon Cohoon and on said IGth of June at 

 Cape Canso voluntarily made and subscribed the foregoing Solemn 

 Declaration. 



OSCAR MALMROS 



U. S. Consul 



No. 174. 



I Thomas C. Cook of Cape Canso in the Province of Nova Scotia do 

 solemnly declare that 1 now am and for the last Twenty years, have 

 been a Merchant transacting business at this port, and am well ac- 

 quainted with the business transacted by American Codfishing vessels 

 frequenting this port, and to my knowledge American h'shing vessels do 

 not fish Codfish at all within three miles from the shores, and very rare 

 cases if any mackarel by seines within that distance, and from the 

 changes in the methods of fishiug of late years, the inshore fisheries are 

 less important than formerly 



I am not aware that American fishermen make any use of the Shores 

 of the British Provinces for the purpose of drying nets or curing fish 



Fresh bait, fishing supplies, and outfits of all kinds are purchased at 

 all convenient harbours on the Coasts of Nova Scotia to a large extent, 

 at this port and harbors within two three or hours sail the amount 

 expended for the above purpose reaches the aggregate Amount of 

 Twenty to Twenty Five thousand Dollars Annually 



The United States markets are now the only markets for the Number 

 One Salmon, Number One and Two Mackerel, and for nearly all the fat 

 Herrings produced by the fisheries of the British Provinces, a few only 

 of the Herring of that Class being sent to Canada 



It is a fact felt and acknowledged by all engaged in the business that 

 the iu-shore fisheries of the British Provinces are less valuable than 

 formerly, the deep sea Codfishery being more advantageously fol- 

 lowed 



American fishermen purchase annually at this port and adjacent har- 

 bours within two or three hours sail fresh fish for bait to the Amount 

 of Twelve to fifteen thousand Dollars, and Catch no bait whatever ex- 

 cept on rare occasions a few Squid which are not worth taking into ac- 

 count. 



I would judge that about half or more of the crews of American fish- 

 ing vessels are residents of the British Provinces. 



While the presence of American fishermen in the waters of the British 

 provinces is in no respects injurious to the fishermen of said Provinces 

 it is of great pecuniary profit and and advantage to the people of the 

 Dominion of Canada , 



And I make this solemn declaration conscientionsly believing it to be 

 true and by virtue of the Act passed in the Thirty-Seventh Year of 

 Her Majesty s Reign Entitled An Act for the Suppression of Voluntary 

 and Extra judicial oaths, 



Cape Canso June 16th 1877 



THO3. C. COOK 



