2170 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



miles is that your vessels will not go into port so much ? A. The rea- 

 son, I think, is that I think we could save time; the vessels, when they 

 get close in, are apt to go into harbors after they are done fishing. 



Q. But when you were your own master and skipper of a vessel, you 

 had control of your own crew. You trusted yourself, I suppose. Why 

 didn't you go in then ? A. 1 used not to go within, because I was not 

 well acquainted around the shores. It was not the custom of the fisher- 

 men in those times to go in shore. Since that time we have a great 

 many Nova Scotia skippers. They consider they are close home, and 

 they consider they have a natural right to fish in there. They are ac- 

 quainted in there. 



Q. Now, from the vessels you are acquainted with, fishing in the bay, 

 are they not mostly fishing within three miles from what they report to 

 you ? A. Well, I have an opinion that they get only a very small por- 

 tion of their fish in shore. It is very seldom they go within three miles, 

 or that they used to go within. 



Q. That is what they report to you ? A. I should think so, from what 

 I have heard them say. 



Q. Had you at your service during those years, from 1852 to 1858, any 

 British subjects ? Do you know of any that you could name ; people 

 from Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island ? A. Certainly. 



Q. Could you name some of them ? A. I can't remember names. T 

 have them now. I have different men on my vessels one man named 

 John Scott, who belongs to Canseau. He has been with me for the last 

 ten years. I have had different men of the name of McDonald. 



Q. Is John Scott still living ? A. He is in the bay now, fishing for 

 me. I don't recollect ever hearing him say he got any mackerel within 

 three miles of the land. I suppose he might have caught some inshore. 

 He never says much about it. 



Q. How many vessels now have you fishing in the bay? A. I have 

 three. I haven't had any fishing in the bay before, 1 think, since 1872. 

 I had one in 1872 ; I think one in 1873. That is the last year, I think, 

 I have had them until this year. 



Q. Is Scott the only man you can name as a British subject that has 

 been employed in your vessels ? A. No ; I have others. 



Q. Please give their names ? A. I can't think of their names. I am 

 running ten vessels now. 



Q. Where are the other seven ? A. I have three on the Grand Banks, 

 two home, hauled up, and two more on the George's, I think. 



Q. So that there are five of your vessels which are in the British 

 waters now fishing ? A. Well, I don't know what you call the Grand 

 Bank ; I don't know about that. 



Mr. DANA. The claim that the Grand Banks are British waters has 

 been abandoned. 



By Mr. Doutre : 



Q. Did you ever fish in the bend of Prince Edward Island ? A. I 

 don't believe I ever did. I don't recollect fishing in the bend of the 

 island. 



Q. What you have said of the danger of the bend of the island is all 

 from hearsay I You don't know anything personally ! A. Well, I 

 have 



Q. What is your answer ? A. I know it is a dangerous place. Yes ;. 

 I know by hearsay, and I have lost a vessel there. I lost one vessel 

 there which came out of Malpeque. That was the last year I ever heard 

 from her. 



