AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2271 



including the Georges and the American coast ? A. I know something 

 about it. 



Q. Has it increased or decreased 1 A. It has decreased this year. 

 They did very well last year, but it hns decreased this year altogether. 



Q. Is the bay fishing anything this year ? A. No, I didn't hear of 

 them doing anything. I was down in Canso. I saw some of the Glou- 

 cester vessels in there. 



Q. Now, from your experience on the Banks, you have been in for 

 bait? A. Yes. 



Q. What is the average time you calculate to be absent from the 

 Banks ? A. The average is ten days. I calculate I am sure, that if 

 they would take suit bait from home, and stop on the Banks using the 

 salt bait, they would do better. 

 By Mr. Davies : 



Q. When did the fishermen commence to use fresh bait! A. 1873 

 was the first year it was used. 



Q. Were there many that used it the first year it was commenced! 

 A. No, not many. 



Q. Has the use of it increased to any extent? A. It has greatly for 

 the last three years. 



Q. How much ? A. I don't know. All the Gloucester vessels use it 

 now, but the Provincetown vessels do not. 



Q. The Gloucester vessels are much more numerous than the Province- 

 town vessels? Which is the largest in number? A. The Gloucester 

 vessels. 



Q. What proportion do they bear to the others ; three to one ! A. I 

 should say four to one. 



Q. All the Gloucester vessels use fresh bait now? A. As far as I 

 know. 



Q. You think it takes about an average of ten days to go in and get 

 out? A. Yes. 



Q. What does it cost you to get this bait ! A. It will cost us about 

 $100 each time. 



Q. I don't mean the cost of the trip, but of the bait ! A. That is what 

 I mean $100. 



Q. How much bait do you use? A. CO barrels, sometimes 50 and 

 sometimes 60. 



Q. Each trip! A. Yes. 



Q. How many trips ? A. Four trips. 



Q. Are you now on your way from the Banks ! A. Yes, I aui on my 

 second trip now. 



Q. These two trips how many times have you been in- for bait ! A. 

 The other trip I was in four times. This is the second bait I am now 

 for. I came in for bait and ice now. 



Q. Is this the first time this trip ? A. Yes, this is the first time in 

 from the Banks, but I took bait with me when I went out. 



Q. What did you catch the first trip this season ! A. I had 146,000 

 pounds of codfish. 



Q. Is that a pretty good catch or not ? A. A very good catch. 



Q. Do you consider it above the average or about it !- -A. It is a little 

 above. 



Q. Have your vessels all done pretty well ! A. The bankers have 

 done decently well, but they have been a long time gone this year. 



Q. How is the bait obtained when you go in ? A. They fish them 

 sometimes in weirs, sometimes with seines, mostly altogether with 

 seines. 



