AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2059 



you know that the Gloucester fishermen run down to (Irani! M.ihan to 

 get bait in the spring and other seasons as well f A. I do know it. 



Q. Don't you know that the fishermen of your coast also run to th* 

 coast of Nova Scotia and get bait, ice, &c., for cod-fishing ? A. I do. 



Q. Why do they not get it on your own shores ? A. It is handier t< 

 their fishing grounds. 



Q. Isn't it handy to get it before they leave? Why do they not do 

 so ? A. The vessels I have reference to were fishing on our own roa*U. 



Q. Have you plenty of bait on your own coast, squid and all that! 

 A. Yes. 



Q. Then the story of the bluefish coming down and eating up all the 

 bait and killing the squid is nonsense? A. They are there in the 

 spring and one school in September. 



Q. In the mean time, where do the bluefish get their food ? We hoard 

 yesterday that they were there depopulating the waters altogether ? 

 A. The bluefish drive the squid inshore. That is where we get the 

 greater part of it. 



Q. The squid are driven in by the bluetish ? .V. Yos. Well, they 

 come in there and they have always come in since [ w.is a b >y. 



Q. The bluefish come after them ? A. Yes. 



Q. And eat them ? A. I bet they do. 



Q. They leave enough for you to get bait ? Now, are you serious 

 about that? A. Yes. They come in, and the first thing that you know 

 the squid will be all gone. 



Q. How long do they stay ? A. Sometimes a fortnight and same- 

 times a month. 



Q. I thought you said the first thing you knew they were gone ? What 

 do you mean by that if they stay a month f A. They are, there twenty- 

 nine days, and the first thing you know they are gone. 

 . Q. Now you state that they stay a month? A. Sometimes a month 

 and sometimes a fortnight. Sometimes they stay all summer. 



Q. What are the bluetish doing! A. Eating them. 



Q. While the bluefish are doing this are you getting bait ? -A. Some 

 years we are and some we are not. 



Q. You don't get squid every year ? A. No. 



Q. What else f A. We can go down the coast of Maine and get po 

 gies. 



Q. Do you use pogies for codfish ? A. Yes ; it is the best bait. 



Q. Is it the best bait? A. No; one of the best. Squid is the I 



Q. What better bait is there than pogies T A. The Bqnhl 

 erel are better. 



mit 



mackerel, 



Thev keep longer in ice. 



Q: You cannot fish with salt bait to any practical purpo 

 you, practically, for codfish use anything else ? A. Salt 

 ers. Going on the Banks fishing, most of our vessels n 

 carry slivers. , , 



Q. Do you use salt bait for any other purpose than 

 Pogy bait ? We grind it up for mackerel-bait. 



Q. I am speaking of cod fishing. L>o you use it for an> 

 pose than trawlin|?-A. Salt bait? I do not understand 

 tion. 



