2098 AWARD OF THS FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. When you say that at anytime, according to your experience, you 

 were as liable to be seized within 10 miles as 3 miles of the shore, you 

 mean that you had seen American vessels liable to seizure when they 

 were not within the limits? A. I have seen American vessels bothered 

 by cutters and driven off, when I will take my oath that they were 

 more than 3 or 6 miles from the shore. The distance was in question 

 at the time from headland to headland, drawing a line between them, 

 and I did not like to take my chances; that was my idea in taking out 

 a license. 



Q. Where were you in 1868 ? A. I was running with fruit between 

 the West Indies and Boston. 



Q. And in 1869? A. I then gave up my vessel and went in the 

 schooner E. L. Rich, Captain Jenkins. 



Q. Where ? A. On our shore. 



Q. Entirely ? A. Yes ; we landed 1,250 barrels. 



Q. Where were you in 1870? A. I was in the schooner Finback; we 

 caught 250 barrels on our shore, and then went to the bay, where we 

 took 180 barrels. 



Q. Where ? A. All to the nor'ward, on Banks Bradley and Orphan, 

 &c. 



Q. And in 1876? A. I was then in the schooner I command now; 

 and we took 390 barrels on our shore. I built her, however, for the 

 fruit trade. 



Q. Then you have had considerable experience mackerel-fishing? 

 A. Yes. 



Q. Taking into consideration your whole experience in this respect, 

 and that of the people with whom you are accustomed to live and con- 

 duct your industry, what is your opinion concerning the privilege of 

 fishing within three miles of the coast in British waters ; which privi- 

 lege is the greater, that of being able so to fish in these waters, or that 

 of having the old duty put back on colonial-caught fish, with exclusion 

 from British waters within the limits? A. If I were now engaged in 

 the fisheries, as I used to be, I would prefer a good deal to have the 

 duties on, and take my chances about going in. 



Q. With your experience of your town, which is a fishing town en- 

 tirely, what is your opinion of the value of the American shore fishery 

 as being sufficient to keep your fishing industry afloat ? A. As far as 

 the experience of my town goes I have no statistics from any other 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence fisheries are of no account to us at all, as far 

 as I have looked into the question during the last few years. I have not 

 made a business of studying it up for any number of years, but taking 

 the last three or four years, during which I have studied it up, I find 

 that the bay fisheries are of no account to us at all ; and I think that I 

 can prove it. 



Q. During the last 6 or 8 years you would say that the majority of 

 the Welltieet vessels have prosecuted the fisheries on the American 

 shore? A. Yes, decidedly. 



Q. Do you know anything of the habits of the mackerel, and, if so, do 

 you believe that the testimony given as to their spawning on the Amer- 

 ican shore is correct? A. I am convinced that the mackerel spawn on 

 the American shore; this is the case with any amount of them. 



Q. Why ? A. I have seen there young mackerel which could not 

 have been produced from spawn deposited anywhere else ; they were 

 very small. 



Q. How large were they? A. I saw them this spring around home 

 when coming to New York ; and the last of July I saw them on a calm 



