AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2279 



have recorded there had been much fish taken within three miles of the 

 shore ? A. My impression is that a very small part has been so taken. 



Q. Could you form an approximate idea of the proportion taken within 

 in the bay-fishing? A. You mean within three miles! 



Q. Yes? A. From the best of my judgment, the knowledge I have 

 where my vessels have been, and conversation with the masters of the 

 vessels, I believe that not one eighth of the mackerel have been caught 

 within, I should say less, and I should not say any more. It is nearer 

 a tenth than an eighth. 



Q. Well, you have referred just now to the time when the fishing was 

 free. Did you take out a license while it was not free ? A. I took out 

 a license while they were merely nominal, fifty cents a ton, and when it 

 was one dollar a ton. I didn't take any when they were two dollars. 



Q. What was your object in taking a license? A. My object was to 

 feel secure in my property, not that we desired perhaps to go within 

 three miles, but there was a doubt about where the lines were drawn. 

 There was always a doubt, and to secure against an uncertainty, and to 

 secure ourselves so that we would not be taken if we were five or six 

 miles out, I should rather pay the money than have the anxiety. 



Q. Have you any personal knowledge of. the fishing grounds your- 

 self ? A. I have been over them but not fishing. 



Q. From what you have learned from the captains, have you formed 

 any idea that there is any peculiar inducement to fish at Prince Edward 

 Island, and that the Magdaleus are unsafe ? A. I have always con- 

 sidered the Magdalen s the safest place. 



Q. Do you know where the bulk is caught? A. At the Magdaleus, 

 or between the Magdalens and Cheticainp. 



Q. Now, with your idea of the mackerel fishing, do you suppose that 

 if the American fishermen were required to pay for the privilege of tish- 

 .ing in British waters they could fish with anything like profit to them- 

 selves ? A. -They could not. 



Q. That is, that any additional expense, added to what they have to 

 bear now, would be simply to destroy tue business ! A. It would pre- 

 vent their going. 



Q. You have been engaged also in the cod fishing ? A. Yes. 



Q. How many vessels have you employed, as a general rule ! A. I 

 have nine now exclusively cod-fishing this year. All those vessels are 

 employed cod fishing. 



Q. Just explain. Start with one of your vessels, describe when she 

 sets out and when she comes home, and where she is in the mean time. 

 A. Most of our vessels are vessels that are used on the George's. Our 

 vessels start the middle of January or the first of February for the 

 George's. It is boisterous weather and a rough place; but the men be- 

 come hardened, and willing to venture; they are all on shares, and go 

 for high lines ; they pursue this fishing on the George's until the first of 

 July. We have had all through this season 120 vessels; that has 

 increased some latterly. Continuing on the Georges through the year 

 is increasing. Eight years ago there was half as many vessels in the 

 summer on the George's as now, and more in the mackerel business. The 

 vessels that intend to go mackereliug fit out in July, generally the 1st of 

 July, and those vessels are vessels that have been on the Georges during 

 the spring. We have one class of vessels that have been built a little 

 larger, and they are adapted to the Grand Bank fishery. They are not 

 used for mackereliug at all. They continue the Grand Bank fishery 

 during the season. 



Q. What do you do with them afterwards ? A. They go home about 



