AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 3301 



to thirty barrels of Mackerel per boat with two men : that previous to 

 that time the catch was about one third larger but since the year 1865 

 the Mackerel fishery has been declining so that I have not been able to 

 catch more than from one to five barrels per boat in the fishing seasons 

 in the bay of Gaspe" which in former years was considered the best 

 fishing bay in northern waters My catch for the last two years was 

 one half barrel of mackerel each year I live on the shore of the fishing 

 ground and pay particular attention to the movements of mackerel espec- 

 ially, I believe the fish come in about two thirds less than formerly to 

 the bay but only to spawn they won't bite and go out again & I am 

 well aware that they do spawn in our bay, When we can catch any 

 it is only in stormy weather Up to the year 1855. 1 have seen as many 

 as Sixty five sail of American fishing vessels in the bay of Gaspe" 

 filling rapidly with Mackerel at the same time. Since then the num- 

 ber of American vessels fishing in the bay has been annually decreasing 

 For the last few years they have rarely appeared Last year two 

 American fishing vessels came in but did not succeed in finding fish I 

 have conversed with my neighbors who are also fishermen, frequently, 

 and they agree with me in the opinion that the American fishermen in 

 our waters have been of no detriment to our fisheries but on the con- 

 trary have been beneficial to us by their intercourse in purchasing bait 

 and supplies besides it is a known fact that we have caught more 

 Mackerel when they have been in our proximity Unfortunately for us 

 since they have acquired the right by the Treaty to the inshore fish- 

 eries we have seen less of them than before 



The honest and candid belief and expression of the fishermen of the 

 coast is that the American fishermen have done* no damage to the Ca- 

 nadian fisheries 



The Fishery of the Mackerel in the Province of Quebec is only pur- 

 sued by catching by boats and nets No vessels fitted out for this fish- 

 ery Canadian fishermen in the Gulf do not fish for Halibut but 

 occasionally they are taken on the Cod lines 



My experience in the fisheries has been as I have observed of many 

 years and there are but few men on the Coast who do not know me as 

 a fisherman 



I Subscribe to this with a full knowledge of its Contents 



WILLIAM HOWELL 



Declared and subscribed to before me this twenty third day of June 

 1877, at Gaspe" Basin 

 (Seal.) GEO: H HOLT 



U. S. Consul 

 No. 233. 



PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



DISTRICT AND COUNTY OF GASP 



GASPE BASIN July 28th 1877 



I the Undersigned, Charles Stewart of New Carlisle Gaspe" 

 Now Master of the Schooner "IP. Palmer" of Gaspe" do hereby 

 solemnly declare as follows I am about fifty-seven years of age, 

 for about thirty years I have been in command of a vessel employed in 

 the business of the fisheries of the Gulf of St Lawrence and have had 

 ample opportunities to observe the yield of the various fisheries along 

 the Coasts and shoals of the Gulf for many years past. It is many years 

 since I have seen American fishermen fishing for Cod fish near the 

 shore and in all my experience on the waters of the Gulf I have never 



