3266 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



during late years the mackerel runs closer into the land but formerly 

 when mackerel were still plenty say 10 to 15 years ago about as many 

 mackerel were caught both by Provincials and Americans outside a line 3 

 miles from shore as there were in-shore the American Codfishers in 

 the North Bay get their bait in the spring from the fishermen on the 

 coasts of Nova Scotia and the Magdalen Islands; during the summer 

 the American Codfishers in the Bay catch their own bait on the deep 

 seas wherever they may happen to fish 1 think on an average an 

 American Codfisher in the North Bay buys about 30 barrels of herring 

 on the coasts of the Provinces for bait I think that the presence of 

 American fishermen on our coasts of considerable pecuniary advantage 

 to our people as they spend much money and employ many of our men. 

 And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same 

 to be true and by virtue of an Act passed during the 37th year of Her 

 Majesty's reign entitled An Act for the suppression of voluntary and 

 extra judicial oaths Dated at Lower Milford Guysboro County N. S. 

 August 8th, 1877 



EDWARD WELSH 



PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA 



GOUTY OF GUYSBOROUGH 



I hereby Certify that the above named Edward Walsh voluntarily 

 declared to and subscribed before the foregoing Solemn declaration 



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

 County of Guysborough Province of Nova Scotia this 8th day of Au- 

 gust 1877. 

 (Seal.) JAMES G McKEEN 



Notary Public 

 No. 197. 



I, Charles Lowrie do solemnly declare that I am living at Middle 

 Millford County of Guysboro Province of Nova Scotia I am a fisher- 

 man by occupation, 1 am 45 years old ; about 20 years ago I went first 

 fishing in vessels in the Gulf of St Lawrence and since that time 1 have 

 been out in the Bay in vessels fishing for Cod and mackerel 10 or 11 

 seasons the last season I was Bay fishing was that of the great August 

 storm of 1873 when I was not fishing in vessels I have been boat fishing 

 and I follow that now Some of the American Mackerel vessels come 

 to the North Bay as early as about the 10th of June but the greater 

 number of them don't leave home for the North Bay until after the 4th 

 of July I should think that the average size of an American Mackerel 

 is about 60 to 65 tons new measurement the crew of a mackerel vessel of 

 say 60 tons is about from 15 to 17 hands during the years previous to the 

 last 10 years the American mackerel vessels in the Bay averaged I think 

 2 trips a season landing one trip in the Strait of Causo for shipment to 

 the States sometimes however the American vessels went home with 

 their fare and then returned to the North B#y for a second trip On an 

 average I should say that during seasons when mackerel were plenty as 

 many of them were caught outside a line 3 miles from shore as inside 

 that line both by Provincial and American vessels Porgies & clams 

 are the bait used for mackerel, some Provincial vessels occasionally use 

 however herring but this is not considered as so good a bait I do think 

 that Provincial mackerel vessels catch as many mackerel when fishing 

 alongside of an American Mackerel fleet as they do when fishing by 

 themselves provided they are as well fitted out in every respect and 

 have as good bait as the American vessels ; this is however often not the 



