2082 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



from Gloucester, was asked the question if one vessel had fresh bait 

 whether the others didn't want it too, and he said yes ; and, further, he 

 said that if a vessel alongside had fresh bait you could not catch your 

 share with salt bait. A. I don't know anything about it. 



Q. You do not wish to be understood as expressing any opinion upon 

 this fresh or salt bait f A. No; not to compare them ; but I say that my 

 vessels that started from home with salt bait and continued fishing with 

 it have succeeded better than those that went in for fresh bait. The 

 loss of time and expense overbalanced the advantage of having fresh 

 bait. 



Q. You are not aware of the fact yourself, nor of the reasons that en- 

 abled one vessel to take a large catch and another a small one ; there are 

 other reasons besides the quality of the bait that contribute to one ves- 

 sel taking a large catch as against another ? A. I don't know. 



Q. Take the reasons you have given. Can you tell what the cost of 

 procuring bait is ? $190 1 think you said ? A. That is the draft ; I do 

 not know what it was for. 



Q. Supposing that it cost $100, would you consider that an element 

 of any moment at all in considering whether she should go in or not ? 

 A. Would that be a material element ? A. It would be something. 



Q. With a catch such as your vessels take ? $100 would not be much 

 on a catch of 2,000 quintals ? A. If he had staid there and got his 

 whole catch without going in there and paying $100 it would be better 

 for me. The others staid there and fished and finished their cargoes, 

 and got home without sending any draft. 



Q. But I am reading you the evidence of a fisherman called by the 

 American Government. He says the vessel fishing with salt bait has 

 no chance where the other has fresh bait. 



Mr. DANA. Don't you think it is a little dangerous reading from mem- 

 ory ? He didn't say there was no chance. 



Dr. DA VIES. I think that will be recollected as the substance of his 

 testimony. I have a very strong recollection. 



Q. Now as to tha number of days it takes a vessel to go into port and 

 come back. Have you any practical or personal knowledge ? A. No. 



Q. What induced you to hazard an estimate of seven to ten days. 



Was it a mere guess ? A. No. From talking with the captains and 



talking the thing over I arrive at that. I had letters from captains that 



had been in a few weeks and hadn't any bait. They were about ready 



to go back but hadn't any bait. 



Q. You have no means of knowing what the cause of the detention 

 was ? A: She was detained by calms and by a scarcity of bait. 



Q. And other reasons, possibly ? A. I don't know any others. 



Q. And you give these reasons simply from his own statement ? A. 

 From that statement to the best of my knowledge. 



Q. If we had evidence that it required only twenty-four hours it would 

 not surprise you ? A. It would as to that vessel. 



Q. I am speaking generally as to the time required by a vessel. Have 

 you sufficient knowledge to enable you to be surprised ? A. No. 



Q. Then upon that point you don't wish your evidence to be taken 

 for any weight ? A. No. 



Q. Have you any knowledge of that portion of the cod-fishing fleet 

 which goes to the Gulf of St. Lawrence from Provincetown I A. i have 

 two there myself. 



Q. Do they fish with trawls ? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you know whether they use fish bait or not ? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you know where they get it ? A. They catch it in nets. 



