AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. J ', 



that year was wrecked in 1873 off the Magdalen Islands, in 

 Bay. 



Q. I thought you said that the Magdalen Islands was a rety wife 

 place for vessels ? A. I can clear that up. Pleasant Bay is a risky 

 place to anchor in when an easterly or northeast wind is blowing. I 

 made it a point when there not to do so under such circumstance*. It 

 is then a sort of trap ; but if the wind is coming from any other quarter, 

 Pleasant Bay is a good harbor. With an easterly wind, howover, re- 

 sels are very much exposed there. I did not mean in anything I said 

 regarding the safety of the Magdalen Islands to convey the idea that 

 a vessel could not be cast away there. 



Q. Is the sea not very tempestuous around the Magdalen Islands?- 

 A. The sea is tempestuous anywhere at sea when it blows, 



Q. Does it not blow harder around the Magdalen Islands than it doea 

 anywhere else ! A. I do not know about that. I could not be at the 

 same time in two places. 



Q. Are gales not more frequent around these places than elsewhere ? 

 A. I believe that the weather in the gulf generally is much the same. 

 I have heard it said, I will acknowledge, tbat it is more squally down 

 about the east end of the Magdalen Islands, and Cape North, and Bt. 

 Paul's Island than at other places in the gulf. 



Q. Is it not a fact that, vessels leave the Magdalen Islands as early 

 in the season as possible ? A. I know that they go there as early a* 

 possible. 



Q. And do they not go away as early as possible T A. I suppose that 

 the reason why some vessels leave there so quickly is that they go there 

 for ice. Our cod-fishers go there for that pur{K>se. 



Q. Do not mackerel-fishers leave these islands at an early date T 

 it not a fact that they do not like to remain on this coast later than 

 September, or the middle of September at the farthest ?- 

 that I never staid there later than the 5th or 6th or the U 



Q. Is it not a rule for vessels to leave there in the middle of : 

 ber? A. I left there in 1831 about the 15th of September; but i 

 staid there I would have probably saved my vessel. 



Q. Is it not a fact that the American vessels, as a bml 

 British vessels which go there to fish, get away by the raid 

 temberatthe latest! A. I do not think the vessels remain 

 late as they do at Margaree, on the Cape Breton shore. 



Q. And along Prince Edward Island f A. There are Mal| 

 cmnpeque and some other harbors about this place; an. 

 some think that it is a safer fishing place, owing t 



Q. And vet you think that the Magdalen Island* is 

 A I cannot help saying that now. If you were to p> ii 

 que harbor and stay there all the time, it would 



Q. Is it a good harbor f A. Yes. 



Q. And is it not a great benefit to those whotW.arour 

 A Malpeque is not so reliable. The water of O^-urn 

 and the entrance is not very broad; a bar . 

 thought some danger was to be feared in going 11 

 clear weather, and with very smooth water, you can 



g ls it or is it not a good harbor of refuge T- 

 for the small class of vessels. 



