AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2077 



quintals. I had a draft from her just before I left home. It was then 

 the 10th August. She was then going out with 1,000 quintals of tiu 

 The draft on me was for $192 gold. 



Q. That is, he got 800 with the bait he took from home, and then went 

 into Newfoundland for fresh bait and got 200 more T A. Yea. 



Q. Then he went in a second time and his draft on you was for $183 

 gold ? A. Yes. 



Q. Have you heard from him since ? A. No. I notice in the Boston 

 Advertiser, yesterday, that the Freddie Walter arrived home the 10th 

 September with 1,600 quintals. She had never been to Newfoundland. 

 She reports the other schooner on the Banks the 5th September, with 

 1,800 quintals. 



Q. One of your hand-liners made 1,600, and reports the other on the 

 Banks with 1,800. They used only the bait from home T A. That ia 

 they did not go into Newfoundland. 



Q. Now tell me what bait they take on the Banks. A. They take on 

 the Virgin Kocks caplin, and before they go there they use birds. . 



Q. Do they take birds with hooks ! A. With shot guns and with 

 hooks. They use also some of the refuse of the fish, the spawn, &e. ; 

 the pea, that is, of the codfish. They catch some squid on the Banks. 



Q. Well, there have been times when the squid are very abundant on 

 the Banks? A. In '73 I had a schooner that went three trips, and never 

 carried any bait unless it was a very few barrels. That was in '73 or '72, 

 I don't know which. 



Q. Supposing a vessel to be fishing where the Bank fishermen from 

 Provincetowu usually do, and to go into one of the ports] of Newfound- 

 land, one of the usual ports, suppose her not to have any extraordinary 

 delay, but to be able to buy bait at once and return to her ground, mak- 

 ing allowance for all the difficulties in the way of navigation, what do 

 you think would be the average time for the passage to Newfoundland 

 and back to her ground ? A. 1 should think seven to ten days. 



Q. Now as to the certainty of being able to buy as soon as she arrive*, 

 or within twenty-four hours after, what bait she wants, do you know 

 anything about that? How is that! A. Well, it is uncertain. 



Q. Well, if these vessels could not buy bait, but had to run to New- 

 foundland and catch bait within three miles of the coast, then you could 

 not tell at all, of course, how long it would take them ? A. No. 



Q. But taking the most favorable view, that they have to go 1< 

 or so into a harbor, and occupy one or two days, say two on an average, 

 or three, to buy bait, and return. By the way, you consider that simply 

 as bait the fresh bait is better than the salt ? A. Yes. 



Q. Now, allowing for that, and taking into consideration i 

 makes up the commercial proposition, which would you ratlrer TOO. 

 sel would do, fit out with salt clams and take their chance of fres 

 on the Banks, or go to Newfoundland to get fresh bait 

 rather they would take their chance with salt clams, and not go f 

 all. 



Q. You consider the loss of time in fishing, and the expente MC 

 thing that enters into the problem f A. My experience in tl 

 I tell you of is in favor of that. 



Q. This business of going into Newfoundland from tl 

 recent ? A. It is with my vessels. 



Q. You know as an underwriter and as president of an n 

 company, and also as an outfitter, you must know t 

 masters of vessels, agents, and owners in Province* 



