2262 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



edge of the business of Gloucester, you thought the mackerel-fishing 

 had increased or diminished. You said that it had diminished in the 

 gulf, but increased on the coast. Now, what he wants to know is this, 

 whether you saw that diminution from 1865 to 1874 ? A. Yes, sir. 



Q. As inspector, you could see from 1865 to 1874 leaving out the last 

 two years could you or could you not see that there was a diminution 

 in that number of years ? That is all he wants to know. What is the 

 answer? A. I have. 



Q. Now, there is only another question. Mr. Davies was very anxious 

 to know how it was when you were off Margaree that you could not 

 answer whether the fleet was with you fishing. Now, I propose to read 

 to you an account given by a gentleman whose reports have been before 

 us and have been referred to several times, his description of the mode 

 in which you fish, and I think that will explain to the Commission exactly 

 what was meant. It is from the report of Dr. Fortin, in December, 1859, 

 I think. He says: 



For this purpose they cruise with their vessels, as I have said already, in certain places, 

 from sunrise to sunset, and I should add that in fair weather they stop every half hour, and 

 sometimes oftener, to throw bait into the water, in the hope that some shoals of mackerel 

 may see it and allow themselves to be attracted by it to the surface. The mackerel-fishing- 

 schooners, which are almost all good sailers, often sail from sixty to a hundred miles in a 

 day on a cruise of this kind, and they may cruise for a week at a time, and sometimes 

 longer, without taking a single fish. I met many of those schooners during my cruise in 

 the gulf, and as I make it my duty to obtain all the information I can from them, I have 

 often been told by captains who had been fishing a great part of the season that they had 

 not taken fish enough to pay for the board of their hands, while others have informed me 

 that they had loaded their vessels in the space of a fortnight or three weeks. 



Now, the reason he cannot describe the fleet is because it scatters. 

 Just explain now, without leading questions, how it is you cannot answer 

 whether the fleet was fishing with you or not? A. Every one knows 

 that in the absence of fish they try all over the bay, and just as soon as 

 one vessel finds them, all the fleet are around to charge for them. 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. With reference to these years that you say the fleet decreased in 

 the gulf and increased ou the coast, did you ever examine the statistics 

 to ascertain whether you were correct or not ? A. I saw from the Glou- 

 cester papers. 



Q. You never went to the custom-house to 'examine the register 

 there ? A. I thought you asked me to state whether between the dates 

 .you referred to the catch had increased in the bay. 1 referred to the 

 catch. 



Q. You didn't want to speak with reference to the number of vessels, 

 but solely as to the catch f A. Yes. 



No. 27. 



EDWIN SMITH, of Gloucester, called on behalf of the Government of 

 the United States, sworn and examined. 



By Mr. Trescot : 



Question. You are a native of Gloucester? Answer. Yesj of Rock- 

 port, five miles from Gloucester. 



Q. It is included in the custom-house district of Gloucester? A. 

 Yes. 



Q. What is your age ? A. Forty-one. 



Q. How long have you been fishing? A. Ever since I was 15 years 

 of age. 



