2080 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. Have any of your merchants from Provincetown prosecuted it to 

 any extent I I only ask for information, as I have been given to under- 

 stand that you never did. A. I think there is quite a number of cod- 

 fishing vessels there this year. The mackerel has been nearly aban- 

 doned. 



Q. I want to know whether at any time the mackerel fishers have 

 prosecuted the business in the bay from Provmcetown ? A. They have 

 to some extent. 



Q. I know, but kindly give us some information as to what extent. 

 A. I don't know that I have any statistics. 



Q. I am instructed that you never did. A. We never have ; it is 

 mostly cod-fishing. 



Q. When you say that you have abandoned it. you mean that you had 

 very little to abandon ? A. Not very many. 



Q. How many vessels have you prosecuting the mackerel fishery from 

 Provincetown altogether ? A. I don't know. 



Q. Are there as many as ten or twelve? A I think there is. 



Q. Would you say as many as that ? A. I should think so. I think 

 more. 



Q. Many more ? A. I think there is. 



Q. I want to have an idea ? A. I don't know. I don't carry on the 

 mackerel business myself, and don't pay much attention to it. 



Q. You never have carried it on much yourself? A. No; my small 

 vessels go fishing around the shores in the fall for mackerel. 



Q. You haven't given much attention to that branch of the business? 

 A. No ; very little. 



Q. I believe you are not what we call a practical fisherman? You are 

 a merchant and remain at home ? A. Yes. 



Q. You don't go yourself, and haven't for many years ? A. No. 



Q. Just explain about the navigation of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 and the bight of the island ? How many years is it since you have 

 been there? A. Since '41 1 have not been there. 



Q. That is somewhere about thirty-five years ago ? A. Yes. 



Q. You can hardly* say from practical experience whether it is a safe 

 place or not ? A. No ; only the time I was there. 



Q. I have been a little surprised to hear about this dangerous coast, 

 as I have lived there. I am anxious to know from somebody where 

 these dangerous places are. You know the harbor of Cascumpeque? 

 A. Yes. 



Q. Now, as a practical man, I ask you, is there the slightest difficulty 

 in a vessel, with a northeast wind, sailing directly to Cascumpeque Har- 

 bor ? A. I consider it a shoal-water harbor. 



Q. That is not the question. Is there the slightest difficulty in a ves- 

 sel in the bight, with a northeast wind, making Cascumpeque ? A. I 

 think there is. 



Q. Show why. A. I think it is a shoal-water harbor. That is my 

 experience. It is very rough. 



Q. You give your reason because of the harbor, not because a vessel 

 could not make it with the wind ? A. The wind would be fair, of course. 



Q. The only objection you would have would be the harbor ! A. 

 Yes. 



Q. Would you have the same objection to Malpeque ? A. Yes. 



Q. How many vessels have sheltered there at one time ? A. I don't 

 know. 



Q. Would you be surprised to learn that as many as 250 have ? 

 A. No. 



