know that they also purchased squids from local fishermen. One of these United States fishing vessels had a caplin-seine hung up drying, for which he asked me £17, it being a large seine. Several of the vessels referred to above fitted out at my place with wood and water. I sold them wood, for which they paid in money.

I consider the traffic of these United States fishermen in bait injures this fishery, and must decrease the supply for local purposes. Fishermen cannot have too much bait, and more care is being observed every year to protect this fishery, to secure fishermen in a necessary supply, but the prospects under the treaty, giving Americans the privilege to fish in our waters, are not improved.

GEORGE BUTLER. Sworn before me at Northern Gut, Conception Bay, this 30th April, 1877. J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits.

No. 104.

STEPHEN PARSONS, aged 57 years, planter and fisherman, residing at Bay Roberts, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith: I have followed the fisheries of Newfoundland for forty-five years, and have a practical knowledge of the same in all their branches. I saw five United States fishing vessels in this neighborhood last year. There were three of these vessels anchored on the squid-jigging ground one day last fall. They were off and on throughout the season in this and neighboring harbors. Men and masters of these vessels told me they came for fresh bait, and had been in Bay Bulls and other southern harbors, following the bait wherever it was to be found. It was squid-bait they were after here; but they also came upon our shores for caplin and herrings for bait. One of the vessels that called here had made two trips to the United States, one with halibut and another with codfish, and this vessel was on her third trip when she called here. The captain of this vessel told me that he did better than formerly, and was much aided by the facility of procuring bait on our shores to the great saving of time, as they were seldom twenty-four hours in making the Banks and beginning fishing after leaving our shores. Newfoundland fishermen generally catch codfish within one or two miles of our shores. The Newfoundland fishery (cod) is an inshore fishery. The bait fishery, caplin, herring, and squid is an inshore fishery, and is never taken two miles from the shore, except in rare instances, when squids are caught by craft-fishing on Cape Ballard Bank and such places. I never knew or heard of a Newfoundland fishing-vessel prosecuting any voyage on any of the shores or coasts of the United States of America. The supply of bait to United States fishing-vessels has injuriously affected the supply to local fishermen. It has done so in a year when bait was considered plentiful; in a year of scarcity it would be ruinous. I am certainly of opinion that the operations of United States fishermen on the Banks off our coasts, well supplied with fresh bait, interferes with and tends greatly to reduce the catch of local fishermen, and that their whole traffic in connection with the fisheries and bait supply on our shores must result in permanent injury to our fisheries and in great loss to our people. United States vessels do refit in this neighborhood when required.

his

STEPHEN + PARSONS.

mark

Sworn before me at Bay Roberts, Conception Bay, Newfoundland, this 26th April, 1877.

No. 105.

J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits.

JOHN BARRET, aged 60 years, planter, resident at Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith:

I know the fisheries of this country by having followed the same for forty-five years.

I saw three United States fishing-schooners in this harbor last year, and there were a large number in other parts of the bay.

These vessels came here for fresh herrings and squids for bait. This bait they procured partly by catching for themselves and partly by purchasing from our people. The quantity taken by each vessel was forty barrels for each trip. These vessels came here from the Banks for bait, and left again for the Banks when they had procured their bait. The price paid for bait by United States fishermen was from one shilling to fifteen pence per hundred for squids.

Newfoundland fishermen generally catch codfish within two miles of the shore. The Newfoundland fishery is an inshore fishery. The caplin, herring, and squid, caught for bait, are all inshore fisheries, taken generally within stone's throw of the shore.

1 never heard of a Newfoundland vessel engaging in any fishing voyage on any of the shores or coasts of the United States of America. United States fishermen do sell small codfish, oil, and fishery produce in this neighborhood, as I believe they do in most places along our shores where they call. I purchased fifteen cwt. codfish and thirty gallons cod-oil from them last year. For the codfish I gave ten shillings per cwt., and for the oil two shillings and sixpence per gallon.

The supply of bait to United States fishermen tends to decrease the supply to local fishermen, and I believe such has already been the result of their bait traffic in this bay.

I am of decided opinion that the presence of the large number of United States fishing vessels on the Banks well supplied with fresh bait interferes with and tends greatly to reduce the catch of local fishermen, and firmly believe that the short catch last year was attributable to the operations of United States fishermen as aforesaid. The fishery in this bay and along these shores last year and year previous was not more than half the average of former years.

There is an ice-house at Harbor Grace and Mosquito where ice is stored. Americans here last year got their ice at Mosquito.

JOHN BARRETT.

Sworn before me at Spaniard's Bay, this 27th April, 1877.

J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits.

ARCHIBALD HUTCHINGS, aged 56 years, fisherman, residing at Span iard's Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith:

I followed the fisheries of this country for forty years. I was present when John Barrett made the above statement, and, excepting as relates to the age of said John Barrett and his transactions in fish and oil with

United States fishermen, I believe the said statement to be true in all particulars.

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ARCHIBALD + HUTCHINGS. mark.

Sworn before me at Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland, this 27th April, 1877.

No. 106.

J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits.

ALFRED HOPKINS, aged 52 years, planter, residing at Heart's Content, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith:

I have become acquainted with the Newfoundland fisheries by prosecuting the same in their various branches for upwards of thirty-five years. I have seen United States fishing schooners in this neighborhood; there were four or five in this harbor last year at one time, and as many as twelve in this harbor throughout the summer.

These vessels came here for fresh bait, which they purchased in part, and caught in part themselves. Squids was the bait they were in quest of. These vessels came in from the Banks off our coast for bait, which they procured as aforesaid.

Newfoundland fishermen generally catch codfish within two miles of the shore; the Newfoundland cod fishery is an inshore fishery. The caplin, herring, and squid fisheries for bait are all inshore fisheries, and are prosecuted close to the 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.

The supply of bait to United States fishermen, although only commenced, has decreased the supply for local fishermen, and when the former become better acquainted with our harbors and the facilities for procuring the bait they require, it cannot be doubted but that great injury will result to the interests of local fishermen in decreasing their supply of bait. The bait-fisheries above others should be protected by all possible means. The operations of United States fishermen in supplying themselves with bait on our shores and in our barbors tends to injure this fishery much more than as prosecuted by Newfoundland fishermen, who only require a comparatively small supply, and this is taken each day in limited quantities, or, when taken for a catch off shore, is still in moderate quantity compared with the supply required by United States fishermen, and the procuring of the lesser quantity is not attended by the noise and bustle attending the larger supply taken by United States fishing-craft. I do not think the caplin, the herring, or the squid fisheries would or could hold out many years if subjected to the operations of any considerable number of United States fishermen, judging from what I have seen of them and their traffic for bait last year.

There is no doubt on my mind as to certain effects resulting from the fishing operations of United States fishermen on the Banks off our coasts well supplied with fresh bait, and that one effect of their fishing operations as aforesaid has been and must continue to be the attraction of codfish to the Banks and to the bait there supplied, preventing fish passing in toward our shores, as would otherwise be the case. The shore fishery along our coasts is injuriously affected by United States fishermen on the Banks, and in my opinion the short catch last year along our south and west coasts was greatly owing to the presence of the large

number of United States fishermen on the Banks off our coasts well supplied with fresh bait. The average catch of codfish per man in this neighborhood the last two years has not been more than one-half what the average has been in previous years.

There is an ice-house in this harbor where one hundred and fifty tons of ice is secured for sale to United States fishermen this year, a large number of their vessels being expected at this harbor this year for bait and ice.

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ALFRED + HOPKINS. mark.

Sworn before me at Heart's Content, Newfoundland, this 28th April, 1877.

J. O FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits.

CHARLES RENDELL, aged 44 years, fisherman, residing at Heart's Content, in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith:

I was present when Alfred Hopkins made the statement before J. O. Fraser, commissioner of affidavits, on this day, and which statement is marked B. I believe the said statement to be true in every particular, and judge it to be true and reasonable from an experience of thirty years, during which time I prosecuted the fisheries of this country almost continuously.

CHARLES RENDELL.

Sworn before me, at Heart's Content, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, this 28th April, 1877.

J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits.

No. 107.

THOMAS L. NEWHOOK, planter, residing at New Harbor, Newfoundlaud, maketh oath and saith:

I am forty-four years of age. My knowledge of the fisheries of this country is derived from practical connection with the same for thirty years. I saw four United States fishing vessels in this harbor last year; there were a number of them also in other near harbors that I did not see, but believe they were-as reported-in other harbors looking for fresh bait. I don't recollect the names of these vessels, but know they hailed from Gloucester, U. S. A. These vessels came here for fresh bait, which they purchased from our people, except what they jigged themselves. Each vessel took from thirty-five to forty barrels squids for a trip to the Banks, and the price paid for said bait was from one shilling to eighteen pence per 100.

Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish generally within a mile of the shore. The Newfoundland cod fishery is an inshore fishery. The bait fishery-caplin, squids, and herrings is an inshore fishery. I never heard of a Newfoundland vessel fishing on any of the coasts or shores of the United States of America.

The supply of fresh bait to United States fishermen cannot fail to reduce the supply for local purposes.

The large quantity of fresh bait used on the Banks off our coasts by United States fishermen certainly tends to attract codfish and prevent

their passing in towards our shores. Last year's catch of codfish along these shores was not nearly an average catch.

THOMAS L. NEWHOOK.

Sworn before me at New Harbor, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, this 27th April, 1877.

J. O. FRASER, Commissioner of Affidavits.

MOSES PARSONS, aged 42 years, school teacher at New Harbor, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith:

I followed the Newfoundland fisheries for ten years. I was present when Thomas Newhook made the above statement, which I believe to be true in every particular.

MOSES PARSONS.

Sworn before me at New Harbor, Trinity Bay, 27th April, 1877.
J. O. FRASER,
Commissioner of Affidavits.

No. 108.

EDWARD MORSE, aged 52 years, planter and fisherman, residing at Dildo, in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, maketh oath and saith:

I saw nine or ten United States fishing-schooners in this harbor last year; they came in from the Banks for fresh bait and ice. Captain Newhook was master of one of these schooners; they all hailed from Gloucester, United States of America; their tonnage ran from sixty to seventy-five tons. I boarded two of them to see how they were fitted out. One of these schooners was at Renteen, in this bay, for caplin ; the others seen by me came for squids, which they jigged in part, and in part purchased from local fishermen. The price given for squids, for what they purchased, was from one shilling to two shillings per hundred. They thought to haul squids with seines, but our peopole would not allow that, because such a plan would destroy the fishery for local fishermen. Seiuing would inclose all the squids in the harbor, as both on entering and leaving the harbor squids strike into the North or the South Cove, where one seine would inclose the whole school, and then local fishermen who only need from fifty to one hundred squids each per day could not be supplied. Should United States fishermen begin seining squids, as they wished to do last year, and as they have threatened to do, it will destroy the squid-bait fishery, as far as local fishermen are concerned.

My sons sold about one hundred squids to the United States fishermen referred to. Newfoundland fishermen catch codfish generally within two miles of the shore. The codfishery is an inshore fishery. The bait fishery-including squids, herrings, and caplin-is an inshore fishery. The supply of bait to United States fishermen decreases the supply for our local fishermen.

I am of very strong opinion that the presence of the large number of United States vessels, fishing on the Banks with fresh bait, and constantly supplied with such bait, must injuriously affect our shore fishery, and to this cause I attribute the short catch last year along our south and west coasts. The catch hereabouts last year was not over half a fair average of years previous to 1874.

American captains told me that it was a great advantage to them to