AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2123 



the coast? A. No. I think the mackerel are eel grans mackerel right 

 inshore, and if I fitted out a vessel and had a skipper who would jr., 

 there, I would not have him go in the vessel. The inshore mackerel art 

 not as good by fifty per cent. 



Q. Then it is hardly necessary to ask you whether you regnnl it btfr 

 ter to have a duty on mackerel than not T A. I HUPIHMO it would be 

 better. It might enhance the price of our fish a little ; I don't know 

 that it would. The fish caught in Xova Scotia vowels does not make a 

 great deal of difference in the States, as regards the price. 



Q. Why ? A. Because we catch so many more there. If the qnao 

 tity caught by American fishermen in American waters Ml off, then the 

 mackerel which came from Nova Scotia would l>e very high in pric* ; 

 but the main thing is this: if the quantity of mackerel caught by Amer 

 ican fishermen in American waters is plentiful wo have low price*, if 

 the quantity is scarce, we have high prices; and this without regard to 

 imported mackerel. 



Q. How many boats from Newburyport are engaged in fishing ! A. 

 We have from 40 to GO open boats, having 2 men each. 



Q. Where do they fish ! A. From one to six miles from land, winter 

 and summer. I have myself fished 25 years in winter. 



Q. What do they fish for? A. For codfish altogether in the winter. 



Q. And for what in the summer ? A. For cod, mackerel, hake, and 

 haddock. 



Q. And then going beyond open boats, what have you ? A. We have 

 deck boats that are not large enough to be admeasured by government. 

 We don't admeasure anything under five tons. These deck boat* go and 

 stay out every night in summer. We have from 1.* to 20 of theae. 

 Then we have another class, which comes under the registry laws, vea- 

 sels from 5 tons to 30. We have from 15 to 20 of these. 



Q. Where do they fish ! A. They catch cod off the bar of the month 

 of the Merrimac, off the Island of Shoals, and off the .Jeffrey*. They 

 fish for haddock in winter. 



Q. Do they come into British waters ? A. No. 



Q. Do any vessels less than 20 tons come up beyond the American 

 side of the Bay of Fundy I A. No ; I never knew one under that site, 

 present tonnage. I knew a vessel which went to Bay Chaleurs and 

 which was 25 tons, old register, about 13 tons new measurement. 



Q. That was how many years ago ? A. 25 years ago. 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. You are not a practical fisherman now ? A. No. 



Q. What is the position you now bold!--A. I aiu map* 

 toms, and I hold four or five different offices. 



Q. How long have you held ofiice f A. Seven years on 

 month. 



Q. You are a Kepublicau in politics? A. I suppoi 



Q. You were down in the bay, I understood, for ten yeawt- 

 ten years off and on, not continuously. 

 Q. From 1842 to 1858 you were some years on j 



Q'. You fished chiefly to the north of the Magdalen Islands whi 

 the bay ? A. Yes. 



Q. Did you catch all your fish there ? A. Chiefl, 



Q. In 1844 in what vessel were you T- 

 barrels. 



