2044 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. Were those two years exceptional ? A. No, because we have had 

 good fishing generally. 



Q. Is the mackerel fishery a fishery that may suddenly revive? A. 

 Yes. There are years when the fish are scarce, and then years when 

 they will be very plentiful. 



Q. You are perfectly certain of that in your own mind ? A. That is 

 so, so far as my experience goes. 



Q. It is a fishery that may suddenly revive ? A. Yes. 



Q. I will read a few extracts from the Fisherman's Memorial and 

 Eecord Book, published at Gloucester by Proctor Brothers. A. I know 

 the firm. 



Q. You are thoroughly acquainted with this book ; it is used very 

 much by mackerel fishermen ? A. I have read it. 



Q. It is pretty reliable, is it not ? A. Yes. 



Q. It is considered reliable in its statistics ? A. I know nothing to 

 the contrary. I suppose so. 



Q. It states : 



The largest stock made in the Bay of St. Lawrence mackerel fishery was that of the 

 schooner Col. Ellsworth, Capt. George Robinson, in 1865. She was abseut about five 

 months, her net stock amounting to $13,728. The high-liner's share was 558 ; cook's 

 share, 8582. 



Schooner Gen. Grant, Captain Goes, in 1864 stocked, in two trips to the Bay of St. 

 Lawrence, $11,254.94 clear of all expenses. The high-liners made $502.24 ; cook's 

 share, $638.17. 



Schooner Norwester, Capt. Daniel Hillier, the same year stocked $9,721.74, net in one 

 bay trip ; the high-liners making $308.60, and the cook 486.61. 



Schooner General Sherman, Capt. George W. Miner, in 1864, in a three-months' trip 

 to the bay, packed 612 barrels of mackerel, her net stock amounting to 6,696. High- 

 liner's share, 575.06. 



Schooner Kit Carson, Capt. Horace Merry, in 1865 brought in 591 barrels of mackerel, 

 having been absent about ten weeks. Her net stock amounted to 6,542. High-liner's 

 share, 260. 



You did as well as that in one case? A. Yes very nearly. 



Q. Did you do better? A. What was the high-liner's share? 



Q. 8260 ? A. I have done as well as that. 



Q. Have you not done better ? A. We sail our vessels a little differ- 

 ent from the way in which they do. 



Q. The take in question amounted to 591 barrels in ten weeks ? A. 

 I know of vessels that have made a good deal larger stock on our coast. 



Q. Than those I mentioned last ? A. Those were for Gloucester ap- 

 parently. 



Q. Yes. Have you known vessels do better than the last did I have 

 named ? A. I say I have known vessels fishing on our coast that have 

 done so. 



Q. And better than the last one I read, or better than the first one? 

 A. Better than the best one. 



Q. Will you name the vessel ? A. She was the J. H. Orton, of Well- 

 fleet. 



Q. What did she do? A. I think she stocked to the value of 

 $10,000 odd. It was somewhere in that neighborhood, but I am not 

 certain as to the exact amount. 



Q. How long was she fishing ? A. From May to the last of October. 



Q. Who owned her! A. Darius Newcombe, the captain, and others. 



Q. This must be mentioned in this book ? A. No. She is owned at 

 Wellfleet. 



By Mr. Foster: 



Q. Whereabouts is Wellfleet ? A. It is between the east end of 

 Cape Cod and Truro, which adjoins Provincetown. 



