2204 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



like to ask you whether you do not think that 82,000 is not a little too 

 high for the purposes in question ? A. I do not know but what it is. 



Q. How many men would there be on board a vessel 1 A. We carried 

 from 15 to 22 in the Wildfire and Blue Jacket. The cost of salt and 

 bait mounted up to a pretty figure then, though this is not now the 

 case. 



Q. One of the witnesses has told us that salt costs 90 cents a barrel ? 

 A. That is now ; but in tke war times salt was high as well as every- 

 thing else. 



Q. Would you put down for provisions for the crew about $1.50 a 

 week per man ? A. Well, I guess that would not be far out of the way. 



No. 22. 



THURSDAY, September 27, 1877. 

 The Conference met. 



AARON Eiaas, master-mariner, of Gloucester, Mass., was called on 

 behalf of the Government of the United States, sworn and examined. 



By Mr. Trescot : 



Question. How old are you ? Answer: 57. 



Q. How long have you fished in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ? A. When 

 I first went there, I was 15 years old. 



Q. How long have you been going there as skipper ? A. I first went 

 as skipper in 1845. 



Q. In what vessel ? A. The Deposit. 

 Q. What was your catch that year ? A. 130 barrels. 

 Q. Whereabouts were they taken ? A. We fished on Bank Bradley. 

 Q. That was the only trip you made that year I A. Yes. 

 Q. And you caught all your fish on Bank Bradley ? A. Yes. 

 Q. Were you in the bay in 1847 ? A. Yes ; in another vessel. I was 

 not the skipper 



Q. When did you go to the bay again as skipper ? A. In 1854. 

 Q. Where were you fishing in 1847, '8, and '9 ? A. I was fishing on 

 our shore. 



Q. What sort of fishing did you have there during those years, as a 

 general rule ? A. Well, we had pretty good fishing ; one year we got 

 between COO and 700 barrels. I was not skipper at the -time. 



Q. When did you next go into the Gulf of St. Lawrence ? A. I was 

 there in 1854. 



Q. Were you not there in 1850 ? A. Yes ; in 1850 and 1851 1 was in 

 the bay, but I was not skipper. 



Q. What vessel were you in during 1850 ? A. The Gazelle. 

 Q. Where did you fish ? A. We caught our fish between Point Es- 

 cuminac and North Cape. 



Q. What did you catch? A. We made 2 trips, and caught 240 or 250 

 barrels on the first and 175 barrels on the second. 



Q. Did you fish inshore on any of those occasions? A. No; not within 

 3 miles of the shore. 



Q-. Were you in the bay in 1851 ? A. Yes ; and made two trips. 

 Q. Where did you catch your fish ? A. About North Cape. 

 Q. At what distance from it 1 A. Ten or 15 miles, and maybe 20 

 miles. 



Q. Were you in the bay in 1852 ? A. No. 

 Q. Or in 1853 ! A. No. 

 Q. Were you there in 1854 ? A. Yes. 



