States fishing vessels off and in Broad Cove, Torbay, and Portugal Cove aforesaid, the particulars of name and tonnage of which I did not take a note of, but I know these vessels also belonged to the United States, and came for fresh bait, which they, with the vessels first referred to, procured, catching in part and buying in part from local fishermen. The price paid for the first squids was ten cents, afterward it was raised to fifteen cents, and then to twenty cents per hundred squids. WILLIAM TULK. Sworn before me, at St. John's, this 30th July, A. D. 1877. No. 98. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. JAMES PICOT, aged 78 years, residing at Portugal Cove, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I have followed the fishery of Newfoundland when my mother was obliged to dress me; that is, for over sixtyfive years. I know all about the fisheries. I saw a great many United States fishing vessels in this neighborhood last year, off and on, between first August and end of October. There were eight here at one time, but also a large number coming and going. These eight hit it very nicely; they came about noon, with wind N. E. That evening and next morning they got their bait, all over fifty barrels and some one hundred barrels, and in the evening about two o'clock they all left for the Banks with a fair breeze from the westward, which increased to a fine sailing breeze or as much as they could fly away with, and we all said they were very fortunate, as they would be on the Banks in about forty-eight hours from the time of starting therefrom. They purchase from our people principally, but they do put out their dories and go upon the jigging ground themselves. Newfoundland fishermen generally catch fish within a mile of our shores; hereabouts we fish within a half a mile. The caplin and herrings for bait are taken in shoal water close to shore; squids are taken in up to twenty-five fathoms of water. I never heard of a Newfoundland fishing vessel prosecuting any fishery on any of the shores or coasts of the United States of America. United States fishing vessels have sold cod-oil in this neighborhood last year, and provided themselves with water. When bait happened to be scarce their crews used to come on shore and go scampering over the hills for "harts." They made repeated raids for harts, which freshened them up and took the stiff out of their joints. I think the supply of bait to United States fishermen, last year, very much shortened the supply to our own people. I do believe the traffic by them with herrings has something to do with the non-appearance of berrings this spring in this locality, which I never knew to be so scarce before with such fine open weather. We have had nets out since Saint Patrick's day and have not caught five dozen herrings. I do believe that the United States fishermen on the Banks off our coasts, well supplied with fresh bait, tends greatly to reduce the catch of codfish by local fishermen, and that the short catch along the southwest coast last year was mainly attributable to their operations. The average of the catch of codfish per hand in this harbor for 1875 and 1876 would not exceed forty quintals. Previously, the catch would run from eighty to one hundred quintals per hand. There is an ice-house here for keeping ice for sale to United States vessels. The general belief among fishermen is that the traffic of these United States fishermen in our waters will ruin our fishery. his JAS. PICOT. mark. Sworn before me, at Portugal Cove, this nineteenth April, 1877. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. MARK PICOT, aged 37 years, fisherman, residing at Portugal Cove, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I was present when the above statement was made by James Picot, and excepting as relates to his age and the time he followed the fishery, I know the said statement to be true in every particular. MARK PICOT. Sworn before me, at Portugal Cove, this nineteenth April, 1877. No. 99. DANIEL TUCKER, aged 34 years, fisherman, residing at Broad Cove, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I have followed the fisheries of Newfoundland since I was ten years of age. I have seen eight United States fishing schooners in this cove at one time, and as many as twenty off and on. The Mary Carlyle was one of these vessels; Jo. F. Allan another; Henry Wilson another. Captains McDonald, Greenlief, and Hines were among their captains. The note I show you is from Captain John Campbell, of the schooner Joseph F. Allan, and it says, "Catch all the squid you can, and I will pay for them, and take them sure." United States fishermen caught what bait they could while they were here, but they could not supply themselves quick enough, and so they engaged our people to catch for them, whom they paid from ninepence to two shillings per hundred squids. Each United States vessel would take about forty barrels squids, some as high as fifty, and others twenty-five, but averaging forty when they could get them. They got their bait without delay. Captain Campbell was only a few hours; the last men, when bait was scarce, were longer. Some of these vessels had pilots from the shore, Squires, of this cove, being pilot on board one of them. These American schooners took from eight hundred to nine hundred barrels squid. The people here very generally gave up cod-fishing to catch squids forthese United States vessels, and this greatly to the injury of our people, who would have been better off, however scarce fish might have been, had they stuck to the cod fishery. Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish generally within a mile of the shore. The caplin, herring, and squid, caught for bait, is taken close to our shores. I never heard of a Newfoundland vessel prosecuting any fishing-voyage on the coast or shores of the United States of America. United States fishermen sold codfish and oil in this cove last year; they sold, to my knowledge, one lot of eighteen hundred weight codfish, at seven shillings per hundredweight, and for the five casks oil sold by them they were paid two shillings and sixpence per gallon. The large supply of bait to United States fishermen decreases the supply to our local fishermen. The herring was never known to be so scarce as this spring. The cod fishery along shore is injuriously affected by the large supply of fresh bait on the Banks to United States fishermen, which prevented codfish passing toward the shore; and I believe the short catch along our southwest shores last year was on account of their fishing operations in bait and on the Banks. The catch last year was not more than one-half what it was before 1874; to say a fourth would be nearer the correct thing. We believe they wont leave a fish for us to catch. One of the captains told me that this year we would not see the light through the tackle, they would be so numerous, and we fully expect them. DANIEL TUCKER. Sworn before me, at Broad Cove, Cramp Bay, Newfoundland, this 19th April, 1877. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. JOSEPH TUCKER, aged 47 years, fisherman, residing at Broad Cove, Cramp Bay, Newfoundland, makes oath and saith: I was present when Daniel Tucker made the above statement, and know that it is true in every particular, having had practical experience in the fisheries since I was ten years of age. JOSEPH TUCKER. Sworn before me, at Broad Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, this nineteenth day of April, 1877. No. 100. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits PHILIP LEWIS, aged 44 years, fisherman, residing at Holyrood, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I have prosecuted the fisheries of Newfoundland for 23 years and upwards. I saw a great many United States vessels in this neighborhood. Last spring there were a large number here-throughout the season there were upwards of twenty of these vessels here; among these I can only name a few of the captains in charge-Captains Morrissey, Keehan, Kane or King, Greenwood, Gray, Collinwood. A St. John's man in charge of an American fishing schooner, who was among those who caught squids on Sunday. Deneif, whose vessel was at Harbor Main; Ryan, the latter was among those jigging squids on Sunday. There was so many, and most of them strange names to me I cannot recollect many of them. These vessels came here to procure fresh bait. They did procure their bait here, purchasing the principal part and jigging a part for themselves. Their vessels anchored within a quarter of a mile from the shore. Each vessel took about twenty-five barrels and upwards from this place; some more. Their full supply of bait would be fifty barrels, but most of them had a part of what they required, which they procured in other harbors. They paid from sixpence to two shillings per hundred squids. There was no ice here for sale to them-they supplied themselves with ice elsewhere-and when their stock was out they salted their squids. The total quantity of squids taken by them from this place last year would be over 500 barrels. Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish generally within two and three miles of the shore. The herrings, caplin, and squids, caught for bait, are each taken close to shore. I never heard of a Newfoundland vessel having prosecuted any fishery on any of the coasts or shores of the United States of America. I have heard that United States fishing crews have sold small fish and cod-oil in this neighborhood, and that they did sell such produce here and at Harbor Maine. I purchased oil myself from them in payment of squids. The price of oil as paid by me was two shillings and fourpence per gallon. The large supply of fresh bait used by United States fishermen on the Banks I fully believe tends to keep codfish from striking towards our shores, and thus affects the catch of local fishermen injuriously. The punt fishery in this neighborhood has been much reduced the last two years. American captains told me that they did not know anything about Conception Bay for baiting purposes until last year, but that they found it the most convenient place to procure bait of any other they knew, and that they intended in future largely to avail of it for the purpose of procuring bait. Conception Bay is freer from dangers in approaching it than most bays, and has comparatively little fog, of which American captains spoke approvingly. PHILIP LEWIS. Sworn before me, at Holyrood, Newfoundland, this 24th April, 1877. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. JOHN VEITCH, aged 39 years, telegraph operator, residing at Holyrood, Nfld., maketh oath and saith: I was present when Philip Lewis made the above statement, and excepting the part referring to the number of vessels at this harbor last year, I know the statement to be true in every particular. I saw five or six United States fishing vessels here, but heard of a large number that I did not see. United States vessels regularly refit in this neighborhood. I sold one of these vessels flour that they were short of. JOHN VEITCH. Sworn before me, at Holyrood, Nfld., this 24th April, 1877. No. 101. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. EDWARD O'BRIEN, aged 49 years, constable, residing at Cats Cove Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I know the fisheries of Newfoundland from following the same since I was a boy, until ten years ago. I have observed a number of United States fishing-vessels in this neighborhood last year, and the year previous there were five or six in Salmon Cove. I saw a large number of these vessels at Holyrood, Belle Isle, Northern Gut, and in the offing in this bay. The vessels referred to came here for fresh bait, which they purchased and caught as best they could. The supply of bait to United States schooners decreases the supply to our local fishermen. I am of decided opinion that the presence of the large number of United States vessels on the Banks, well supplied with fresh bait, tends to keep fish from passing toward our shores and largely decreases the catch of codfish by local fishermen, and that the short fish. ery last year was mainly attributable to their operations. The vessels that called here last year for bait were supplied with ice before coming here; they procured their ice on other parts of the shore. There is no ice-house in this harbor. American vessels refit in this neighborhood, and have sold small fish and oil in Harbor Main, Holyrood, and elsewhere in this bay. All fishermen of this country believe that the traffic, as carried on by United States fishermen in our harbors, for fresh bait, and on the Banks off our coasts, is hurtful to our fisheries, and has already resulted in great damage to our bait fishery. ED. O'BRIEN. Sworn before me at Cats Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, this 25th April, 1877. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. No. 102. EDWARD WADE, aged 56 years, planter and fisherman, residing at Cats Cove, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I was present when Edward O'Brien made the statement before J. O. Fraser, on this day, marked A, which I know to be true in all particu lars except as relates to the age of said Edward O'Brien. his EDWARD + WADE. mark. Sworn before me at Cats Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, this 25th April, 1877. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. EDWARD MEANEY, 48 years, planter and fisherman, residing at Salmon Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I was present when Edward O'Brien made the statement marked A, on this day, before J. O. Fraser, commissioner of affidavits, and, except as relates to the age of Edward O'Brien, I believe said statement to be true in all particulars. EDWARD MEANEY. Sworn before me at Cats Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, this 25th April, 1877. No. 103. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits. GEORGE BUTLER, aged 55 years, farmer, residing at Northern Gut, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I have followed the cod fishery in Newfoundland for about fifteen years; but during late years I have followed farming. I saw a number of United States fishing-schooners in this neighborhood the last two years; the number seen by me was from eight to ten. These vesels came here for fresh bait. I saw them jigging squids, and |