2388 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



they have been very small, and we have taken them out. We have 

 turned out as much as 2,500 barrels of small paugies. They were not 

 salable in the market, and we let them go to grow big. 



Q. Does the halibut briug a high or low price! A. It has run this 

 season from five to ten cents a pound. 



Q. But generally the halibut is abundant in the market and the price 

 is low ? A. Yes. 



By Sir Alexander Gait: 



Q. Is the price you mentioned that which you would get for them 

 when you brought them in ? A. No. 



By Mr. Dana : 



Q. Now, can you tell me how many vessels are engaged in cod-fishing 

 for the New York market from your town 1 A. There are 32 or 33. 



Q. Solely in that business ? A. Yes ; altogether. 



Q. When do they go to the Banks ? A. The fore part of April. 



Q. Where ? A. To Nantucket Shoals altogether. 



Q. Now, I want you to describe to the Court whether there is an abun 

 dance or otherwise of cod on the Nantucket Shoals ; how it is as a cod- 

 fishing region. A. Well, it is very big field for fishing cod. Last year 

 they found them plentier than for twenty-five or twenty-eight years. 

 They have been very plenty all the season. 



Q. This season ? A. Yes; they have plentier than for a good many 

 years back. Eight through the summer they have caught them very 

 plenty anywhere from eighteen to twenty-five fathoms of water. 



Q. How often do they go in to New York? A. Once a fortnight, 

 about ten trips, from the first of April to the last of September. Then 

 they quit that ice fishing, and along October and November they carry 

 them alive in wells. They generally carry ice. 



Q. You say they run into New York how often ? A. Once a fort- 

 night. Ihey have ten trips of ice-fishing and four trips in the wells. 



Q. Now, how many vessels from New London engage in supplying 

 New York with fresh codfish ? A. Well, I have looked over the list. 

 Somewhere between twenty five and twenty-eight. There should be 

 more. 



Q. Is Greenport engaged in the same business ? A. Yes. There are 

 not near so many vessels. 



Q. Well, these vessels, you say, are all smacks ? A. Yes. 



Q. What tonnage ! A. Anywhere from 20 to 45 tons. 



Q. When they have a fare, about how many fish on the average are 

 they able to take in ? A. About 2,500 to a vessel. Some get more and 

 some less. Some have been in with 4,300 or -4,400 of fresh fish, 



Q. How much did they sell for by the pound ? A. From three and a 

 half to eight cents. They averaged about five cents a pound. 



Q. What would be the average catch to a man ? A. Well, there are 

 about five men to a smack. 



Q. How do you fit them out, on shares ? A. Yes. They average 

 about three men to a vessel on shares, and a few men by the mouth at 

 $20 and 825. 



Q. Has this fishing for New York market with fresh fish been found 

 profitable ? A. JSo; they make a living. They just about make enough 

 to live through the winter and start even next spring. 



Q. 1 suppose generally those engaged as merchants in it. doing a mer- 

 cantile business, make more money? A. The men in Fulton market 

 make iuoie money. There is where we leave our money. 



