AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



2306 



natives and was so until Nova Scotia and Newfoundland became such a 

 nursery for us. These countries now raise up our fishermen, and they 

 do not come among us until they are of age. 



Q. The object of my inquiry was this : It struck me from what you 

 said that there was a very intimate connection between the cod and 

 mackerel fisheries ? A. That is the case ; the halibut fishery is included 

 in the same category. 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. Do you find any difficulty to get men to go on Georges Bank ? 

 A. Not much. 



Q. Is it not considered one of the most dangerous fishing places in 

 the world ? A. It has been a very disastrous place some seasons ; but 

 within the past few years the disasters on the Grand Banks have ex- 

 ceeded those on Georges Bank ; and some years the disasters in the 

 bay have been more severe than those on Georges. We find that the 

 dangers are divided around. We lost as many as 140 men one spring on 

 Georges Bank. Some years it is very dangerous there. 



By Mr. Foster : 



Q. I am reminded that you said you recollected the first year when a 

 mackerel-fishing vessel went to the bay ? A. 1 did not say so. 1 re- 

 member, however, a man who went on this first vessel. 



Q. Who was he ? A. Capt. Charles Wood. He is now dead he 

 died a few years ago. 



Q. You must have been pretty young at the time ? A. I was not very 

 old ; that was in 1830 or 1831. 



Q. What proportion of the fishermen of Gloucester come from the 

 provinces ? A. I suppose that over one-half of them come from the 

 provinces and Newfoundland. 



Q. And how is it -with the skippers ? A. Well, I suppose that over 

 one-half of our vessels are now skippered with natives of Nova Scotia. 



Q. Though they are really and nominally naturalized? A. Of course 

 they are naturalized after a time j they are good fishermen. 



Statement handed in ly Mr. Joseph 0. Procter, October I, 1877, and referred to in hu nuitnee. 



145 F 



