AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2229 



miles of Margaree ? A. I bave probably beard it a dozen times, but 

 never bring it to mind. 



Q. Now, perhaps we can reconcile tbis. Perbaps your statement can 

 be reconciled witb that of Captain Layton. I include, when I speak 

 of three miles, three miles from Margaree Island, as well as three miles 

 from the mainland. Do you mean that ? A. When we fish we fish four 

 or five or ten miles from the back side of Margaree. 



Q. When you say they didn't fish within three miles, did you include 

 Margaree Island as well as the mainland ? A. Of course I did. 



Q. You base it upon hearsay ? A. That is the general opinion. We 

 go by the boats as much as anything else, and they would not go off the 

 northwest part of Margaree for fish if there was any mackerel inshore. 

 It would not be necessary. 



Q. How far from shore do they fish ? From the island ? A. All the 

 way from two and three miles up towards Broad Cave. 



Q. Don't they fish within a quarter of a mile ? A. They come right 

 in, for all I know. 



Q. Now, you stated that on your shore you had everything to contend 

 with some years that the seiners occupied the ground ? A. Yes ; the 

 last year I was there. 



Q. Why were they a nuisance to you? A. I have always fished with 

 hook and line, being a little behind the times. I did not care, being 

 along in years I thought if I could get along without using the seine 

 I would do so. 



Q. Why were the seines objectionable ? A. Because they fished 

 where we did. They occupied all the grounds. They were setting seines 

 where we were. 



Q. Is the purse seine a destructive kind of fishing or not ? A. It 

 catches the fish up very fast. 



Q. Is it destructive to the fisheries ? A. I think it is the worst thing 

 that ever could be for mackerel. 



Q. Is it your opinion that it destroys the fishery ! A. I think it 

 does. 



Q. It kills a good many fish ? A. Yes. 



Q. When a man fishes with the hook he has everything to contend 

 with with the seiners? A. I think it kills the fish up and makes them 

 scarce. 



Q. Do I understand that in your opinion, it destroys the fishing 

 ground ? A. It makes the fish scarcer, yes. 



By Mr. Dana : 



Q. In the year 1874 you told me you caught 278 barrels in the first 

 trip ; and in the second how many, do you remember f A. I think 

 somewhere about 200. We packed 498 barrels that season. 



Q. How many of those did you catch at the Magdalens ? A. Very 

 few. I was there once. 



Q. State as nearly as you can. A. I should think twenty barrels. 



Q. Now, taking twenty from 498 barrels, where were the rest caught f 

 A. At Prince Edward Island off around what they call Fisherman's 

 Bank, and East Point the second trip. Once I was at Malpeque Har- 

 bor. That is all, but didn't catch any fish that way. 



Q. What parts of Prince Edward Island did you say you caught fish 

 A. At Fisherman's Bank. That is abroad off Georgetown, some eight 

 or ten miles, some a little farther down, what they call E ist Point, east- 

 southeast from the point, then at Second Chapel. 



Q. You were asked some questions about the general opinion as to 



