1766 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



The attempt of many witnesses to show that the fishing was all car- 

 ried on outside of three miles, was amusing, to say the least. 



Isaac Burgess, of Belfast, Maine, fisherman, called on behalf of the 

 Government of the United States, sworn and examined by Mr. Foster. 



This witness fished in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the years 1868, 

 1869, 1872, and 1874, and, excepting on one day, all his fishing was out- 

 side of three miles. 



By Mr. Weatherbe: 



Q. You caught your mackerel four miles off? A. Yes. 



Q. WTiat proportion ? A. Half of them ; I could not tell. 



Q. I suppose that would be the distance you would select as being good fishing? A. 

 Yes, sir. 



Q. That would be the best fisbingyou have? A. Yes, sir. 



Q. I suppose most of the fishermen fished that distance ? A. Yes ; they generally fished 

 off there near four or five miles. 



Q. It is considered about the best fishing, four or five miles ? A. Yes; it is. 



Q. I suppose in some places the fish would go in three and a half miles f A. Yes ; some 

 fish do. 



Q. Yon would not mind coming in three and a half miles if you were four miles out; I 

 suppose sometimes they would manage to get in three miles ? A. No vessel that I have 

 ever been in. 



Q. I am not speaking of the vessels, but the fish ; is there anything to stop them at four 

 miles T A. No. 



Q. There is no obstruction of any kind ; just as good water ? A. Yes ; only a little shal- 

 lower. 



Q. Just as good feed ? A. Yes. 



Q. Perhaps better feed ? A. Well, most generally the gales drive them off, but they come 

 back again. 



Q. I suppose when the wind is a little off shore the best feed would be inside, close in ? 

 Yes. 



Q. Closer inside than four miles? A. I should say so. 



Q. They would then go in pretty close? A. Yes. 



Q. You would then go in there and drift off? A. Yes. 



Q. And the fleet would do that. We have evidence of that. The fleet would run in 

 as close as they could get and then drift off ? A. Yes ; that was the way they fished. 



Q. As close as they could get in ? A. Not within four miles. 



Q. I was referring to a little closer. I wanted to come in a little closer if I could. I was 

 throwing a little bait. A. Well, probably there might have been some fellows got in 

 handier. 



Q. Some would go in handier? A Yes; some of the captains went in. 



y. Let us make a compromise and say three miles and a half. You don't object to that, 

 do you ? ( No answer. ) 



George Friend, of Gloucester, whose evidence is to be found on page 

 19 of the United States, was produced and examined by Mr. Foster. 

 He had many years' experience of fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawreuce, 

 having fished there every year from 1855 to 1860, and owned several 

 fishing-schooners, two of which were seized, but afterward released. 

 He gave evidence that the great body of his mackerel were caught 

 more than three miles from the shore. 



He was cross examined, and at page 123 the following record ap- 

 I>ears : 



By Mr. Woittherbe : 



Q. Betwwn IN>< and 1*70 you had five vessels fishing? A. Ye?. 

 Q. And you made throe mackerel trips? A. Yes. 

 Aii-1 you lust ii , n ,.y by them? A. Yes. 



ti>h outside of the three-mile limit? A. 1 could not tell you. 



^. \\hrre .lid tin- 

 Q. You have no i 

 Q. You had thrw 

 They came hot 



a whore they fished ? A. No. 



easels fishing i n the bay ; you sent them there ? A. Yes. 

 and you lost money by the trips ? A. Yes. 



f\ A J J 1 * K. *3O 



W- ' undertake to say that you do not know and never made any inquiry 



trier the vessels fished inshore or outside ? A. Yes. 

 Q. You never made any inquiry about it f A. No. 



