AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2385 



Q. How far is that from the land. Nova Scotia ! A. About GO or G5 

 miles from Cape Sable, about south by east. 



Q. With the same results ! A. Yes. 



Q. You used your original pogies and menhaden that you brought 

 from home ? A. Yes. 



Q. Now you know Cape Sable, and Cape Sable Island ? A. I don't 

 know Sable Island. I have never beeu down there Cape Sable I mean. 



Q. How near have you ever been to the shore there fishing ? A. I 

 have fished two trips in my life within sight of Cape Sable light. 



Q. Did you always see it ? A. No ; once in a while ; it was a red 

 light ; they have changed it now. 



Q. How often have you been there? A. About three times in my 

 life-time, in 42 years ; that is the furthest eastward I have ever fished. 



Q. And you never fished nearer the land of Cape Sable than about 

 15 miles! A. No; I think it was full 15 miles, if it was not more. I 

 don't know how far you could see; it was very hard to see. It was a 

 red light. 



Q. How long can you keep this halibut in the wells on board your 

 smacks? A. Just as long as we might stay down here in cold water; 

 we keep them in the well alive; we have had them in the well four 

 weeks, just as bright as when they were taken from the water. When 

 we go into Connecticut in the warm water they won't live. 



Q. They will live off Nantticket Shoals and off the George's ? A. 

 Through March, April, May, and the fore part of June. 



Q. Now when it becomes warm, if there is any danger of their dying, 

 what do you do f A. We take them out and kill them and stow them 

 in ice. 



Q. Do you take more ice than enough to preserve your bait ? A. We 

 have two or two and a half tons generally to preserve our bait. We 

 generally take 25 or 30 tons of ice on the trip. 



Q. For the purpose of stowing the halibut ? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you give them any food in the wells ? A. No ; I have had 

 them there when we have thrown in a lot of menhaden. We have 

 scooped them up and thrown them into the wells with the halibut, and I 

 have taken forty-four out of a halibut after they have been in. But we 

 don't pretend to feed them, because we hardly ever put any food in the 

 wells. 



Q. Do you find the halibut after such a long fast just as good as 

 ever? A. Do I think he is? Yes, sir; I think he is the best fish in 

 the world with the exception of the salmon. 



Q. After staying in the well he is just as good as when he is caught? 

 A. Yes ; because he gets rid of all the filth, and he is all fish, what is 

 left of him. He is a splendid fish and I like to catch him. I would 

 quit my meals any time to catch a good halibut. 



Q. Do the New London people catch fish the same way with smacks ? 

 A. Yes ; the same way. 



Q. And they fish in deep waters ? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you know anything about catching halibut inshore ? A. No; 

 not unless on the Nautucket Shoals, in shoal water ou the George's. 



Q. Well, I don't call that inshore. I mean near the mainland ? A. 

 No. . 



Q. Did you ever make port up here ? A. Yes ; I have three times 

 in to northward of Cape Sable. 



Q. What port ? A. Stoddart Island. 



Q. That is somewhere about Cape Sable? A. Northward of Cape 

 Sable. 



150 P 



