1956 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Sea Cove. The people sold them herrings. I saw the vessels going out. 

 But I was not told they set any nets, or anything of the kind. 



Q. How did they get the herring ? A. They bought them from the 

 people. 



Q. How far do you live from South Head, the breeding ground for 

 herring ? A. Fifteen or sixteen miles. 



Q. Can you see it from where you live ? A. No. 



Q. Then you don't know what is going on there ? A. Vessels might 

 come in and go out and I not see them. I saw the vessels I have men- 

 tioned in the fall getting herring ; but I never heard that they went in 

 and caught fish during the three mouths they are not allowed to take 

 them. 



Q. Does Mr. McLaughliu live near the breeding-ground? A. Quite 

 near. 



Q. He would know, would he not ? A. He would know if the ves- 

 sels were there. 



Q. You stated that the people of the island were first, to your idea, 

 to set trawls ? A. The first 1 heard of trawling-fishing. 



Q. Will you state the names of those on the island who first set 

 trawl-nets ? A. There are a great many of them. I can tell you the 

 names of some ; but a great many people have moved in there during 

 the last five or six years whom I don't know. 



Q. How long ago was it that you first heard of trawl-fishing ? A. 

 The first time 1 heard of them setting trawls was three summers argo, I 

 think. They might have been trawl-fishing before that. There have 

 been three summers' trawl-fishing on our coast. 



Q. That is the first time you ever heard of it ? A. Yes. It is three 

 years ago that the people spoke of it. 



Q. Yon never heard of the system of trawl-fishing before you heard 

 that it was followed by some people in your island ? A. Yes. 



Q. Where ? A. I have talked with Maine fishermen, and they told 

 me they had used trawls, and they considered it hurt the fishing. 



Q. Did they tell you that the trawl-fishing had destroyed their fisher- 

 ies? A. They considered it was a wasteful way and destroyed them. 



Q. Did they tell you their fisheries were destroyed by trawl-fishing ? 

 A. Five years ago I talked with Mr. Smith and Mr. Wickerton about 

 trawl-fishing. 



Q. That was the first time you ever heard of trawl-fishing? A. Yes ; 

 the first time I ever had any conversation about it. 



Q. And two years after that you heard of your people setting trawls ? ' 

 A. Three summers ago the people of North Head commenced. 



Q. Do the Americans trawl very much in the waters round the 

 island? A. Probably when the fish are there; the fish have not been 

 there so much. 



Q. Have the Americans been trawling there during the last four or 

 five years? A. The people say they have had trawls out. 



Q. And you believe that mode is destructive to fishing? A. That is 

 what the people who use trawls tell me. I never use trawls. 



Q. The reason is because you do not think it a proper mode of fish- 

 ing? A. 1 don't think it is a proper way to fish. 



Q. And yet the Americans come in year after year and use trawls. 

 Have you seen them use trawls this year ? A. I have not been out fish- 

 ing. 



Q. Have you heard of it ? A. They have not come in. Last fall the 

 American fishermen were close inshore when the fish were there, and of 

 course they used trawls the same as our men did. 



