THE NORTHEAST COAST FISHERIES 527 



and under its provisions American captains desiring the use of 

 Canadian ports for purposes of procuring bait, transshipping 

 cargoes, purchasing provisions, refitting, etc., may purchase 

 licenses at the cost of $1.50, multiplied by the registered 

 tonnage of the vessel. 1 



But each year the value of such privileges to our fishermen 

 has been diminishing, and the vast majority of United States 

 fishing vessels do not care to avail themselves of them. In 

 1898, out of 1427 New England schooners engaged in fish- 

 ing, only 79 took out licenses,- and the year before only 40 

 bought the right to enter Canadian ports for the purposes 

 mentioned in the Modus Vivendi. 



The inshore cod fishery of Canada, though still prosecuted 

 by Canadians, has been wholly abandoned by Americans. 

 The entire American fleet, which is equipped for cod and 

 other " ground " fish, follows the Bank fishery. The use 

 of larger, faster and better equipped vessels, the carrying 

 of ice to pack away the catch, the use of iced or salted bait, 

 has almost totally obviated the necessity of touching at 

 Canadian ports, and our fishermen declare themselves to be 



1 The form of license is as follows : 



(Name) (Master or Owner) of the 



United States Fishing vessel tons register, of , 



having paid, to the undersigned, Collector of Customs at the port of 



the sum of $ , being one dollar and fifty cents per registered 



ton, the privilege is hereby granted to said fishing vessel to enter the bays- 

 and harbours of the Atlantic coasts of Canada, for the purchase of bait, ice, 

 seines, lines and all other supplies and outfits, and the transshipment of catch, 

 and shipping of crews. 



This license shall continue in force for the year , and is issued in pur- 

 suance of the Act of the Parliament of Canada of 1892, entitled, "An Act 

 respecting Fishing Vessels of the United States," 55-56 Victoria, chapter 3. 



This license, while conferring the above-mentioned privileges, does not 

 dispense with a due observance by the holder, or any other person, of the 

 laws of Canada, and will become null and void, and forfeited forthwith, and 

 the vessel will become ineligible to obtain a license in future, if any goods or 

 supplies, or other advantages obtained hereunder are sold or transferred to 

 any United States fishing vessel that has not obtained a license. 



Dated this day of A.D. 189 



Collector of Customs at the Port of 



For Minister of Marine and Fisheries. 



