AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2341 



Q. Now, you have detailed your expedition in for bait this year ; you 

 were in also last year ? A. Yes. 



Q. Can you tell me the time you left the fishing ground last year to 

 go in for bait ? A. No ; I can tell you the time I was gone. 



Q. Can you tell me the port to which you went ? A. St. John's. 



Q. Direct from the Banks ! A. Yes. 



Q. You can't tell the time you left the Banks ? A. No. 



Q. How long did it take you to go in ? A. About 38 hours, I sup- 

 pose. 



Q. Did you get bait in St. John's ? A. Yes. 



Q. Fresh! A. Yes. 



Q. Did you return immediately to the fishing ground ? A. Yes. 



Q. How long were you in St. John's ? A. I was there five days. 



Q. You remained in St. John's five days on that occasion last year ! 

 A. Yes. 



Q. Were you detained by no other cause than the procuring of bait ? 

 A. That is all. 



Q. Was there no bait there to be had ! A. There was, but they could 

 not catch enough at once, and we had to wait for the morning and even- 

 ing catch, and buy what they would bring aboard. 



Q. Did you go in the harbor or remain in Freshwater Bay ? A. The 

 vessel remained in Freshwater Bay. 



Q. Why did she remain there ? A. That is where they catch the 

 bait. 



Q. You did not go into St. John's ; was it not to avoid paying the light- 

 dues ! A. No ; it was not. 



Q. State whether it was that or not. A. No ; I don't know if it was 

 that ; it was not that. 



Q. Did you pay light-dues ? A. No. 



Q. How long did it take you to get out to the fishing grounds at the 

 Banks ? A. I could not say. 



Q. Cannot you remember how long 38 hours ! A. It took nine days 

 from the day we left to when we got back. 



Q. Did you make any other trip to Newfoundland for bait last year ? 

 A. Not from the Banks. We took bait from Cape Breton when going 

 there. 



Q. The only two voyages you made in for bait since you have been 

 master are the one just referred to, when you went round to Bonavista 

 and got salt bait, and one in 1876, when you anchored in Fresh- 

 water Bay, outside of St. John's, and got bait and came out again ? A. 

 Yes. 



Q. Those were the only two trips you went in for fresh bait, except- 

 ing in Fortune Bay ? A. That is all. 



Q. Fresh bait, I believe, is very superior to salt bait for taking fish? 

 A. If it was on the Bank, it is; but when you have to spend half your 

 time looking for it, it is not. 



Q. Then, if you had plenty of fresh bait you would consider it far su- 

 perior to salt bait fo.r catching fish ? A. Yes. 



Q. Did you ever get any ice in St. John's ? A. No. 



Q. Where did you get your ice ? A. Which time ? 



Q. At any time. A. We got ice in St. John's the last trip. 



Q. You got ice in St. John's last year ? A. Yes. 



Q. Had you no other business in St. John's besides that of getting 

 bait f A. No other business. 



Q. Did not your men jig bait themselves ? A. No. 



