2264 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



would not say that. That is the nearest to the shore that I caught 

 them. 



Q. How near ? A. About five miles off. 



Q. Could you tell without any difficulty how many miles off you were 

 when you have undertaken to guess ? A. I could tell with most land. 

 I would be mistaken sometimes. 



Q. Where ? A. Off Cape Mabou. I stopped for water and lowered 

 my boats. I thought I was so near that I could scull ashore, but I found 

 my mistake. It was very high land. 



Q. How near did you think you were to the shore then ? A. I thought 

 I was about two and a half or three miles. 



Q. What did you find it to be ? A. I think I was all of five miles. 

 Then when I went up on a hill and looked down my vessel seemed to be 

 right in. When I went down she was a mere speck to what she would 

 be if she was in there. But you can most always judge around Prince 

 Edward Island ; the land is lower and leveler. 



Q. I would like to know, in this testimony, as to your experience of 

 your fishing; were you fishing generally with the fleet? A. Yes, sir; 

 with the Gloucester fleet. 



Q. Were you with them all the time ? A. Most of the time. 



Q. Without undertaking to say whether each vessel of the fleet had 

 the same experience as yours, your general impression is that your ex- 

 perience was that of the fleet ? A. Yes ; they most all fished around 

 where I fished. 



Q. With your experience in the mackerel-fishing, do you think it is 

 falling off? A. A. I think it is getting less profitable. I went as long 

 as I could stand it. 



Q. Do you mean in the bay or on the coast, or both ? A. I can't say 

 on the coast. The last year was about as good as we have had on the 

 coast. 



Q. Can you tell how much a sea barrel shrinks in packing ? A. We 

 allow that they shrink one in ten. 



Q. Now, with your experience in 1873, 1874, and 1875, what would a 

 barrel of mackerel fetch clear of the expense of packing ? A. Well 

 about $9, clear of all expenses. 



Q. With your experience as a fisherman of Gloucester, and your 

 knowledge of the industry, what do you think is the opinion of those 

 who know and are familiar with the industry, as to whether they would 

 rather have the privilege of coming within three miles of the British 

 shores to fish or have the old duties on the fish that come into competi- 

 tion with theirs ? A. They would sooner have the duty and give us our 

 own market for our fish. 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. Why would you rather have the duty ? A. I think we would get 

 more for our fish. 



Q. You speak as a fisherman ; you want to get the most you can. 

 How much do you think you would get? A. As much as the duty. 



Q. I don't know but you are right. Perhaps you would like to have 

 a little more on. Supposing a duty of $3 was put on, I suppose it would 

 still have the effect of raising the price of fish ? A. I think it would kill 

 us. No ; let me see. I don't know anything about that. I think by 

 keeping the English fish out, our fish would bring a better price. 



Q. Did I understand you to say you had been fishing from 1859 to 

 1875 every year consecutively ? A. Well, most every year. I would 

 not go over the different years. 



