AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2351 



By Mr. Weatherbe : 



Q. You have named all the places where the vessels fished ? A. The 

 bounty catchers ? Yes. 



Q. You say the effect of the bounty was, as far as your personal 

 acquaintance with it goes, that people had to pay about nine shillings 

 on the dollar to get it ? A. Yes. 



Q. The vessels you spoke of as fishin^from the several towns on your 

 coast where did they fish ? Did you think Sir Alexander Gait's ques- 

 tion referred to the bounty vessels ? A. I thought the bounty catchers 

 were meant. The other vessels fished all over the shores. 



By Hon. Mr. Kellogg : 



Q. Fishing for cod or mackerel ? A. Both. I mean the firms which 

 have carried on the fishing. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. I had no reference whatever to the bounty system. I want to 

 know where those vessels you spoke of as sailing out of all the ports 

 on your coast usually fished whether they fished in the gulf or on your 

 own coast? A. All over the whole coast. 



Q. Everywhere ? A. Yes ; everywhere in the gulf, about home, and 

 everywhere else. The same as they fish now. 



By Mr. Weatherbe : 



Q. How far south of your place do they fish ? A. For spring mack- 

 ereling they go as far as Cape May. 



Q. Those vessels you speak of went and fished in the same places as 

 the Gloucester fishermen fished ? A. Exactly. 



Q. And they failed of late years ? A. Yes. 



Q. And your coast fishery has failed of late years ? A. Yes. 



Q. Generally J? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you know the reason the fishery on your coast has failed ; is it 

 overfishing 1 A. I always thought it cost all the fish were worth to get 

 them, anyhow. 



Q. Has your fishery diminished of late years ? A. It was nothing 

 but unlimited credit that ever kept the fishermen up, I contend. 



Q. Then their credit failed* A. Yes. 



Q. Is that the only reason ? A. I don't know what other reason 

 there is. That is reason enough, is it not ? They are not able to carry 

 , it on. They cannot make it profitable. 



Q. Is that the only reason you have to give? A. Yes. 



Q. That want of credit has stopped them ? A. The credit has stopped 

 and the business has stopped. There is no profit in the business, they 

 say. That is what has made it stop. 



Q. There used to be a profit in the business for years and years ? A. 

 I don't know about that. 



Q. Was there never any capital in the business? A. There was some. 



Q. For years and years there was capital in the business? For twenty 

 years? A. Yes. 



Q. There was capital in the business twenty years, was there ? A. I 

 don't think I understand you. 



Q. Was there capital invested to carry on the fishing business on the 

 coast of Maine ? A. I suppose there was, or else I don't know how it 

 could be carried on. 



Q. For a large number of years ? A. Yes. 



Q. For 20 years ? A. Yes. 



