3286 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



course with Americans in their fishery business than they do with either 

 Canadian or Nova Scotian fisherman. 



CYRENIUS BROWN 



Taken before me at Saint Johns Newfoundland this 2nd day of July 



1877. 



GEO. H.Y EMERSON JR 



Examiner 

 No. 212. 



The Examination of William Fitzgerald of St John's Newfoundland taken 

 before me George Henry Emerson Examiner. 



This witness being sworn saith : I am thirty nine years of age. I 

 have been engaged in the Fishery-business over twenty years. I have 

 been fishing out of the Port of Gloucester, United States, for the past 

 ten years. I am well acquainted with the American fishing on the 

 Coast of Newfoundland The Americans never did not do they now 

 use the inshore-fishery within three miles for the purposes of cod or any 

 other fishing except the taking of bait There is not any mackerel fish- 

 ing on the coast of Newfoundland by either American of British Fisher- 

 men. There is no boat fishing by the Americans on the Coast of New- 

 foundland at all. American fishermen do not come prepared for inshore 

 fishing. Inshore fishing would not be profitable to Americans as the 

 inshore fish would not find a market in the United States owing to the 

 smallness of the fish. Americans do not make use in any way of the 

 privilege granted under the Treaty of Washington of landing on the 

 coast of Newfoundland to cure fish, dry nets or procure wood and water. 

 Americans buy their wood and water from the Newfoundlanders. The 

 only advantage derived by Americans under the Above Treaty is the 

 privilege of procuring fresh-bait and ice which they always, with few 

 exceptions, purchase in the different ports of Newfoundland. I think 

 that the presence of American fishermen in the ports of Newfoundland 

 purchasing stores bait ice &c is of great advantage to the people of the 

 Colony and is of great value to the fishermen of the provinces in the 

 way of increased traffic and will be of more importance to the people in 

 the future. I paid last year fifty cents per hundred to Newfoundlanders 

 for Squids for bait and I purchased about 15,000 at that price. I con- 

 sider that number of Squids small for a vessel to take. I have paid as 

 high as ninety cents per hundred for squids on the Western Coast of 

 Newfoundland. 



I think great advantages will be obtained by Newfoundland in the 

 future by the intercourse of American fishermen with Newfoundland 

 fishermen, quite as much as the benefits derived by American fishermen 

 by privileges granted under the Washington Treaty. The Mutual inter- 

 course will improve the habits and customs of the Newfoundland fisher- 

 men especially in the manner of taking and curing fish and also in giv- 

 ing labour to Newfoundland fishermen ; which they are not at all times 

 able to obtain. Half the population of Newfoundland are thrown out 

 of employment when the inshore fishery fails. 



bis 



WILLIAM + FITZGERALD 

 mark 



Taken before me at Saint Johns this 5th day of June A D 1877 



GEO H. Y EMERSON JR 



