AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 19*3 



went in my own vessel, the Lucy Mary which was the one in which I 

 first went to the bay to the Grand Bank. Mackerel were scarce, ami 

 the prospect was discouraging, so I went cod -fishing, curing the tUh 

 myself. I then hauled the vessel up and did not go for mackerel until 

 1840. I did not then go to the Grand Bank, and having no fifth to cure 

 I had to go mackereling somewhere. There was at the time no enrour 

 agemeut to fish for mackerel, either on our coast or in the Gulf of 8t. 

 Lawrence, and as people had told me stories about mackerel ln-iug found 

 at the Azores, I was induced to fit out and go there. 



Q. Did you get any mackerel at the A/ores ? A. No. 



Q. What did you do the next year? A. 1 went again to the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence in 1841, when we fished off the Magdalen l>l.ii,.K Wr 

 got about 100 barrels of very excellent mackerel. They were alnmt all 

 number ones, I think; there were very few number twos. The next year 

 I also went in the same Lucy Mary, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, fishing 

 off the Magdalen Islands. I was in the bay in 1841 and 1S4'J. We Aluul 

 there until the end of the season, but secured only GO barrels. I wa* 

 then master that is, my brother was not with me, and I was master of 

 the vessel. I went home with 60 barrels. This was my ex|>erience in 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence up to 1842. I was there since in J.S."1, when 

 I was in a schooner called the William Gray, .>S tons. She was a small 

 and^dull-sailing vessel. 1 thought we would be much safer off the Mag- 

 dalen islands, and so I went there as I had done during previous years. 

 I staid there until the middle of September, but was not very sncveA* 

 f'ul, getting only 90 barrels ; so I concluded to go over to Prince Kdward 

 Island and try there. I did so, and the next day after uiy arrival 1 found 

 that I was in more danger at this place than at the Magdalen Islands, 

 for I was that day cast away, and 1 lost my vessel. 



Q. When was this 1 ? A. In 1851. I was cast away on Fish Island, 

 ,at the entrance to Malpeque Harbor. 



Q. Was this in the great gale, or previously ?- -A. I 

 before the great gale. I cleared up my wreck, saved what 1 could, took 

 the mackerel out and shipped for home, going on board of another tea- 

 sel. I was off the mouth of St. Peter's Harbor when the great gale 

 came on, and we were then cast away again. So I was cast away twice 

 in a fortnight. This seemed to prove, to my mind, that Prince 1 

 Island was more dangerous than the Magdalen Islands. 



Q. You speak of fishing at the Magdalen Islands being safer 

 Prince Edward Island; explain why it is that you think 

 pose we were at the Magdalen Islands and it looks stormy, 

 blowing on shore where we are, we just run round to the oil 

 the islands and anchor under the lee. If the wind blows up 

 comes stormy, we are there very comfortable, and night or d 

 ourselves in readiness to get under way and get to the j 

 in case the wind should happen to change. Thus 1 have I 

 and round the islands, time and time again. 



Q. Are the Magdalen Islands regarded by the Amcric 

 fishermen as a safe place? A. Yes, 1 think so. 



Q. And as safe as any in the gulf!-A. 1 think so; t 

 acquainted with them, they are considered as safe a a 

 gulf, and I consider them, for my part, safer. I do not \ 

 body is of the same opinion, but 1 think this would be t 

 are thoroughly acquainted with the matter. 



Q. Did you evei catch mackerel, and, it so, how man 

 miles of the shore in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, el 

 around the Magdalen Islands? A. Yes. 



