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niodoration in all thiiisrs. Thi^ witness to whom I rofcr is Ibo fcllow-citizcn of onr friend 

 tlu' I'nMnicr of tlic Islimd, Mr. iloim K. Caminon, and I think lie rncogniiced him iinnic- 

 (liatrlx upon his appt-aiancv on the stand. 



'■ O. Ymi -liiy iliMt till' iiumlpcr of 1io(\l3 anil men eni^agoil in tlio slioro lislicrj' have increased; has 

 tlit'culrh inriciisi'tl to any a|iiin'e'iiilik' oxiciit '. — A. It lias increased in lliu saino ratio as the buats. 



"<}. In i|Mile the same nilici ? — A. Yes. 



'■ i.>. 'I'll wliat extent ilid ynii •;ny the nuinl'or of boats had increased — 100 per cent ? — A. I would 

 say that thi- lias been the eat^c within tlie liust ten years." 



'• One hundred per cent.," says Mr. Campion, from Prince Edward Island. He 

 says this increase lias taken place williin the last ten years, hut he does not undertake to 

 deliiie how tar tliat increase l)e<;au before 18()(), whetlier it continued in the interval 

 between iSGti ami 1S71, and liow far it was resinned afterwards. But we find that live 

 years after tlie eoneliision of the Wasiiin^ton Treaty, tlie boal-fishinj? had increased 100 

 per cent., ami we know that it is tlie freedom of trade in fish that has made the boat- 

 ti;;!iing of tliose islands, tliat has hrouf>;lit alunit their increase in size, wliich every witness 

 has testilied to who has I)een asked the question. I do not know whether my learned 

 friends have asked the (juestion or not, but we have asked it; and it having been testified 

 to by two residents there, Mr. Mull ami Mr. Myriek, and the Government of Great 

 Britain having had ten days allowed them to bring rebutting testimony, brought none, 

 we may, therefore, consider tliat matter as settled, that their growth has been largely in 

 boal-tishing, in the number of boats, the number of men employed, the (jnantity of the 

 cateli, and the amount of capital invested, and that an examination will show that it is 

 to the freedom of trade in lish tliat the) owe it entirely. 



I will read a few words to your Honours from Mr. Hall's testimony, who has very 

 large experience, living, or if not living doing business, on the northern part of the bend 

 oi' Prince Edward Island : — 



"t>. The boat lishories of Prince Kihvavil Island have increased and flourished very much for the 

 last few years >. — A. Ves, very nmeh. They have ;j<ioil reasons for it. 



" (,). What leaRoiis ' — A. A liett(^r class of lishernieii. When wc tirst started business we had, of 

 course, to wcirk wiili '.'vetju hands. Like every ntlur Imsiness, it has to be learned, and ruuu have to be 

 jire]iareil fur it. Thru wheti the duties were ]iut on the best lisjienneu left us and went aboard 

 Aiuerieaii vessils. Tliey cmilil shi]) i'loiii the island or u'O to tiloucester and get good vessels and have 

 their tish '/o intu the United State.s and .'ell for their whulo value. We had no market and hud inferior 

 iiii'n. Nnw, siiiie wi' liavr a free market, these inen have been coming' back. The character of the 

 men and their ability to iish have increased very much. So much so that I honestly think you can 

 ealiiilati' the eateli nf the same number of men now at !2.1 or 33 per cent, more than it was fonuerly. 



• <,». Til what dn ymi attribute this greater su] ply of boat lishermeu and better quality ? — A. These 

 mill iiiid thi'y can li.'^li here. This is their home in many ea.ses. A grcai many get boats and tind they 

 can do Very well lieie nnw lishinj:, and they stock at home and lish from the sliore. 



'■ Q. N'ow, it till' island were cut nfV from the United Slates' market what would become of this 

 biiat-lishiiig, and what would become of the (ishermei/ ? — A. Well, these iishermen would probably go 

 bai k to their old business. I would not want to tish if I Lad to pay the duty ou mackerel." — American 

 Eckkiifr, ]). 48;j. 



Then we have the testimony of Mr. James R. McLean, of Sonris, Prince Edward 

 Island, called by the other side, and coming from the strongest point in ftivour of com- 

 pensation, that is, the bend of the Island: — 



" Wi' had to pay 2 I'-illars a baiTel duty on the markerel we sent to the United States, and the 

 men wnul.l not stay in tin i.slatid ve.s.sels whon they saw that the Americans were allowed to come and 

 ti-h siilr by .sjilr with the liiitish ves'^els, ami i atili an equal share of tish ; of course this was the result. 

 The lislii-rniiii i'on>ei|Ui-iit!y wi-ut on the Amerieati vessels ; our best men did .so, and some ot the best 

 lishermeu and smartest captains umon.i; the Americans are from rriiicu Ed\viU'd Island and Kova 

 Scotia.'' 



There has been put into my hands what may be called an "account stated " on this 

 .subject of tlie balance lietsveeii what is ^;aiiied .ly the Provinces by the removal of the 

 duties, and what we gain by the e.xtension ol'our right to lish. Tiie principle on which 

 it is made up is most iiiirav<)ura!)le to us; 1 do not think it is a sound one, but some 

 persons may. At all events, it is the most untavourablu to us. 



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