3302 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



observed them (American fishermen) Curing fish, or drying their nets 

 on shore I have seen them buying bait and Supplies from the residents 

 of the Coasts in former years; and know of no Case where, in 

 these dealings they have given dissatisfaction but on the contrary I 

 believe that their presence in the vicinity of the fishing people has been 

 of advantage to the latter and to be desirable Since the Mackerel 

 have disappeared from their usual haunts, within a few years past, 

 American fishermen have been rarely seen in the bay of Gaspe" formerly 

 one of the finest fishing grounds for Mackerel 



It is a well known fact that Canadians can build vessels cheaper and 

 sail them at a lower cost, than Americans and the fish being at their 

 very doors as it were it is plain that Canadian fishermen should be 

 able to carry their fish to American ports. and make better sales as to 

 profit the duty being off, than American fishermen who have to come 

 so far from their own ports 



CHARLES STEWART 



Declared and Subscribed to before me this twenty eighth day of July 

 1877 



GEO: H HOLT 



(Seal.) U. 8. Consul 



No. 234. 



GLOUCESTER, Sept. 21, 1877. 



I, Christopher C. Poole, Master of the American schooner John Wesley, 

 do on oath depose and say, that I was born in Rockport, Mass. ; have 

 been engaged in the fisheries for over 30 years. I have been in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence mackereling 30 seasons. My highest stock there was 

 3,500 dollars for a season. Last year was my poorest season, stocking 

 only 200 dollars. 1 bought the John Wexley in 1866 ; during that time 

 she has been six years mackereling, and five years coasting. Previous 

 to this she was owned at Cape Cod. She is 42 tons new measurement, 

 will carry 300 barrels. I always fished at the Magdalen 'Islands, which 

 is the principal American fishing ground. I have taken a good many 

 mackerel on Banks Orphan and Bradley, and in my experience, I have 

 never taken one barrel of mackerel in ten within the three-mile limit. I 

 have just arrived from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and brought home 190 

 barrels that I bought from the English boat fishermen. I went prepared 

 to fish with my own vessel, but finding the prospect so poor, I bought 

 these mackerel and came home. 



1 bought my mackerel for two cents apiece out of the boats, averaging 

 300 to a barrel. 



I cannot save myself a dollar by this trip. I left the Gulf the 5th of 

 September. I saw many American vessels at Port Hood and at Canso, 

 and none of them had done anything. Some vessels left the Bay with- 

 out having been able to take a single mackerel. This is about as poor 

 a season as 1 have ever witnessed in the Bay, and with few exceptions, 

 every vessel there will fail to pay their expenses. 



CHRISTOPHER C. POOLE. 



COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, 



ESSEX ss., GLOUCESTER, Sept. 21st, 1877. 



Subscribed and sworn to by above named Christopher C. Poole, 

 before me, 



DAVID W. LOW, 



Notary Public. 



