1930 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. You then have carried on that business in connection with the sum- 

 mer mackerel fishery? A. Yes. 



Q. You have traded in Newfoundland during all the years when you 

 were mackerel-fishing? A. Yes; and for two years before I became 

 master of a vessel. 



Q. And during that period has the condition of the people who sold 

 you bait grown worse or better ? A. It has improved since I went there 

 for the first time. Families which when I first went there were not 

 worth a dollar, are now well off for that country. 



Q. How much money do you spend there ? A. Last winter I left 

 81,000 there. 



Q. For herring ? A. Yes; that is, for everything. I do not take much 

 goods with me. 



Q. Taking into consideration all the American vessels which go there 

 with permits to touch and trade, as you do, how much money do they 

 leave with the inhabitants of Newfoundland in payment for herring, as 

 far as you can judge? A. I think that last winter there were about 

 thirty sail of Gloucester vessels there; and they would each average 

 $1,000. There were two from our firm, and we left there $2,300. 



Q. Do you hear any complaint from the people who so deal with the 

 Americans about this business and of buying bait? A. No. 



Q. Who makes any complaint, if any is made? A. An English firm 

 at Cape Breton does. 



Q. They complain about it ? A. Y^es, 



Q. Do you go to any place in Newfoundland besides Fortune Bay ! 

 A. For herring, no. 



Q. If you were totally excluded from buying bait at Newfoundland, or 

 anywhere else in the British possessions suppose that they were fenced 

 off and you could not go there at all would you experience any diffi- 

 culty in carrying on the cod fishery on the Banks? A. No. 



Q. Why not ? A. I think that we would then do just as well, because 

 we all have salt bait when we left home, and salt bait would not be there; 

 and the time we lose in going into Newfoundland for bait we would make 

 up by fishing. 



Q. But if one vessel has fresh bait the others want it too? A. Yes; 

 if a vessel alongside of you has fresh bait you are not going to catch 

 your share of fish with salt bait ; but if all the vessels have salt bait the 

 fish take it. 



Q. Can you buy bait at St. Peter's? A. Yes. The Fortune Bay peo- 

 ple run over there with it in the spring. 



Q. They carry it there and sell it ? A. Yes. 



Q. Is there an ample supply of it at St. Peter's ? A. Yes ; a pile of 

 it is taken in there. Sometimes they have to heave the herring overboard 

 because they cannot sell it. 



Q. This is because they have too many herring? A. Yes. 



Q. No objection of which you are aware is made to the Americans 

 trading there? A. No. 



Q. These people are willing to take United States money ? A. Yes; 

 they are willing to take our gold. 



By Mr. Weatherbo : 



Q. Where were jou born in Nova Scotia ? A. At the Strait of Causo. 



Q. How long is it since you lived there? A. Since I was four years 

 old, I have lived at Gloucester. 



Q. You say that for ten years you were fishing in the Bay of St. Law 

 rence? A. Yes; and during that time was master of a vessel. 



