AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2387 



Q. Take the pound-fishing along the coast ; perhaps you could describe 

 how the pounds are constructed ? A. Yes ; of course we can. We had 

 fifty-seven stakes driven to set them on, some in thirty-five feet of water, 

 some as deep as thirty-eight feet of water. We ran them in from that 

 on the leader until they came into four feet of water. 



Q. You drove the stakes in ? A. Yes. 



Q. How long are they? How high? A. They are from thirty-five to 

 forty-eight feet. 



Q. They are laid out in a straight line at right angles with the shore? 

 A. First you drive these stakes down. Then there is a line rove 

 through the bottom of the stake five feet from the end of the stake, 

 through a hole bored in the stake. Then the net is bent ou to these 

 lines, and this net is hauled right down to the bottom. 



Q. By a sort of cable or chain ? Which is it ? A. We have out-haul- 

 ers. 



Q. What keeps them down ? A. These ropes haul them down, and we 

 belay them to the top of the stake. 



Q. Do you have a block? A. There is no block; nothing but the 

 hole through the bottom of the stake. 



Q. How far does this line run out to seal A. It doesn't run out at 

 all. 



Q. But how long is the line of stakes ? A. Nine fathoms. 



Q. Then at the end you have little openings for the fish to go into? 

 A. There is the mouth of the pound. 



Q. Are there not two circular or semi-circular places ? A. No ; only 

 one, on the inner part of the pound ; there is what we call the heart. 



Q. That has two openings ? A. Yes ; one ou each side of the Hue. 



Q. So that whichever way the fish are going they will have to turn 

 in ? A. Yes. 



Q. It is owing to the peculiarity of the fish that they will not turn a 

 sharp corner ? A. I suppose so. 



Q. Then in the heart there is a square box where they finalty come 

 up? A. It is fifty to sixty feet square. We slack all these lines up. 

 They are all cast off. We have out-haulers to haul the net right up to 

 the top of the water. The fish are' all pursed up into one corner. 



Q. Now, is that a large business along that coast of Nantucket, Rhode 

 Island, Massachusetts, and Elizabeth Island? A. Yes; the biggest 

 fishing in the world. 



Q. Has it very much increased? A. Yes. 



' Q. How many men does it require to attend one of these pounds ? 

 A. It took three to attend ours generally three. We had only oue 

 pound. 



Q. How are the catches, great or small ? A. They are great. They 

 catch anything that comes. 



Q. What fish do you principally catch ? A. When we first put on 

 the string we catch halibut and herring oralewives, next mackerel ; the 

 next after the mackerel is the dog fish ; then we catch shark, about 25 

 pounds average; then shad and the chiguit. 



Q. Do you catch menhaden ? A. Then scup after that. 



Q. What do you say of the scup as a fresh fish for market ? A. It 

 is th-e biggest fish in the Fulton market. 



Q. What do you mean by the biggest fish. It bears, the biggest 

 price? A. 



Q. Is there any other name for the scup ? A. The paugey. 



Q. That brings a high price ? A. Yes. 



Q. Is there a great deal of it ? A. Yes ; very plenty. But this year 



