AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 3259 



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 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 if 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 off shore and heave over much bait 

 the mackerel will follow the fleet during the years I was out fishing 

 we did better outside a line 3 miles from shore than inside that 

 line on an average, I am of the opinion, about from to d of 

 all mackerel caught by vessels in the Gulf is caught outside of 

 a line 3 miles from shore I think that seine-fishing is very 

 injurious to the mackerel fishery and ought to be prohibited entirely 

 I hope the Halifax Fishery Commission will recommend a treaty abolish- 

 ing seine-fishing it has never proved profitable in the Gulf of St Law- 

 rence the seines are about 25 fathoms deep and there are but few places 

 in the Gulf deep enough for seine fishing until the present season there 

 were only two or three seine fishers in the Gulf the only bait used by 

 mackerel fishers is clam and Porgies and that comes all from the United 

 States I have beenoutcodfishingin the Bay i. e. Gulf of St Lawrence 

 the codfish caught by vessels in that Bay is all caught in deep water 

 that is more than three miles from shore the bait used for codfishing is 

 herring and mackerel this is mostely bought by American vessel from 

 Provincial store-fishers the spring-herring bait is bought per barrel at 

 the rate of $1.50 to $2.00 each, fat herring is mostly bought by the hun- 

 dred at the rate of about a dollar a hundred and $2.50 per hundred fresh 

 mackerel (300 spring mackerel per barrel) generally it pays the boat- 

 fishers better to sell the fish fresh to the codfishers than to salt and pack 

 them I don't think that Provincial vessels catch any less mackerel on 

 account of fishing alongside of an American fleet I don't think that the 

 American fishermen dry nets or cure fish on the British coasts, at least 

 J have never seen them do it I think that about one third of the crew 

 of American fishing vessels visiting the Gulf are men having their 

 homes in the British Provinces. I think that the presence of American 

 fishing vessels on our Coasts is of considerable pecuniary advantage to 

 our people and does not in any way interfere with their interests. 

 Dated Middle Millford, Guysboro Co. Aug 7th 1877 



GEOEGE CRITCHETT 

 In presence of : ) 



OSCAR MALMROS j 



PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA 

 COUNTY OF GUYSBOROUGH. 



I hereby Certify that the above named George Critchett before me 

 made oath to and subscribed the foregoing statement 



Given under my hand and Notarial Seal at Middle Milford in the 

 County of Guysborough Province of Nova Scotia this 7th day of August 

 1877 



(Seal.) JAMES G. McKEEN 



Notary Public 



