AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2121 



ruuning a risk. Were you running a risk all the time you were in ? Did 

 you consider you were ? A. Not when I wan fishing off shore 



Q. But whenever you went in you considered you were runnine a 

 risk ? A. Yes, when I was trespassing. 



No. 14. 



MOSES PETTINGELL, of Newburyport, Mas*., inspector of rutom,nd 

 formerly a fisherman, called on behalf of the Government of the Coital 

 States, sworn and examined. 



By Mr. Foster : 



Question. You were formerly a fisherman ? Answer. Ye*. 



Q. How early were you in Bay St. Lawrence tuning T A. In 1*12, 



Q. How many years after that were you there ! A. Ten. I wan in 

 the bay ten different years, between 1842 and 1858. 



Q. The rest of the time you were fishing on the United States coasj !_ 

 .\ . i es. 



Q. Fishing for mackerel ? A. Yes; solely. 



Q. Where did you catch the fish in the gulf ? A. The first year, 1*42, 

 I was in the schooner Patrol as sharesman. We caught about 150 barrel* 

 of mackerel to the northward of the Magdalen Islands. Sometime* we 

 caught sight of Cape Gasp6 and Bonaventure Island, but we never saw Si. 

 John's Island. It was called on our chart Prince Edward Island or Si. 

 John's Island. The next year I was in the schooner as captain ami 

 caught 80 barrels. 



Q. Whereabouts ? A. At Magdalen Islands ; I saw North Capo one* 

 during the voyage and only once. I was young and I knew it was a very 

 dangerous place, and I did not want to be caught there. 



Q. During all the years you have been in the gulf, where wan your 

 principal fishing done! A. At Magdalen Islands; occasionally on Brail- 

 ley, but not often. 



Q. Did you make fair catches ? A. Yes ; fair. 



Q. During that term of years jou fished a number of season* on tb 

 United States coast ? A. Yes. 



Q. How did you do there ? A. Very well ; some yeare we made a 

 good thing and some years a poor thing. 



Q. What would be the average number of barrels a season TOO t 

 on the United States coast? About 400 barrels a year, 

 vessel in those days. The vessels were not so large as now. 



Q. How many trips did you require to make to take that quant 

 A. Half a dozen in one season extending for a fortnight or thre* 

 as it might happen. If fishing near home, we would make 

 if we went to George's or Mount Desert, they would be longer. 



Q. You remember the mackerel fleet from Newburyport 

 other of the leading fishery towns for a good many years 

 the years when you were fishing here, how did the towi 

 to the number of mackerel vessels they sent ont ; which 

 and so on ? A. Gloucester, I think, for a great many y 

 fleet came next, and Newburyport next. 



Q. How many vessels had Newburyport mackerelin K in tJ 

 you left off fishing ? A. I think there might have been 1 

 Newburyport and manned by Newburyport men. 



Q. How many mackerelers in all, including thane on our o 

 A. There was about an equal number in the gulf an. 

 those days. 



