3348 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



the said tbree mile line. That of the whole number of barrels of 

 mackerel inspected in said Commonwealth from 1873 to 1876, inclusive, 

 amounting to some eight hundred thousand barrels, not more than some 

 forty-seven hundred and nine barrels were caught within said three mile 

 line. And that for the last four or five years preceding the date hereof, 

 the catch of mackerel within said three mile line, and off the coasts, or 

 in the Bays along the coasts of Her Britannic Majesty's Dominion in 

 North America has been rapidly decreasing, the catch within the three 

 mile line as aforesaid, decreasing from twenty-eight hundred barrels in 

 1373 to eleven hundred barrels in 1874, to four hundred and thirty-three 

 barrels in 1875, to three hundred and seventy-six barrels jn 1876. That 

 from his own personal knowledge, the fishing firms of said Common- 

 wealth, during the last four or five years as aforesaid, have substantially 

 given up as of but little or no profit what is known as the "Bay fishing," 

 and have confined their fishing vessels substantially to the shores, bays, 

 and coasts within the jurisdiction of the United States of America. 

 Witness my hand, at Boston, County of Suffolk, and Commonwealth 



of Massachusetts, this day of August, A. IX, 1877. 



WM. COGSWELL, 

 Inspector- General of Fish for Massachusetts. 



COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, 



OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, SUFFOLK, s. s. 



This may certify that William Cogswell, of Salem, County of Essex 

 and Commonwealth aforesaid, has held the office of Inspector General 

 of fish within and for this Commonwealth since Aug. 24, A. D. 1866, and 

 does now hold the said office, and that on this twentieth day of August, 

 1877, said Cogswell personally appeared before me and made oath that 

 the foregoing statement by him subscribed was true, according to his 

 best judgement, information and belief. Witness my hand and the Great 

 Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the year and date above 

 written. 



(L. S.) HENKY B. PEIRCE, 



Secretary of the Commomcealth. 



