AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2393 



Q. When the boats are fishing near shore? A. No; never, when the 

 boats are fishing near shore. 



Q. When the boats are fishing near shore how do they take mackerel! 

 In it in large schools? A. No; I think the mackerel all through the 

 north .shore, so far as I have seen, seem to be scattered and feed on 

 bottom, and all the way we can get them is to anchor. When the ves- 

 sels come in among us they never get anything at all. They have tried 

 it this year two or three times right in among the boats, but never could 

 do anything. 



Q. Well, can the vessels catch mackerel enough to make a profitable 

 voyage if they fish in the manner in which the boats do? A. No, they 

 c'iinnot. 



Q. What is the largest number of mackerel vessels you ever saw fish- 

 ing together, that you recollect? A. In one place? 



Q. Yes. A. I think I have seen 500 sail of vessels in Boston Bay in 

 one fleet. 



Q. What is the largest number you ever saw together in the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence? A. Well, I think 250 sail is the largest. 



Q. Where was that? A. Around Port Hood and Margaree in the 

 fall of the year, when they all collected there in October. 



(,. What year was it? A. I could not tell exactly, but I think that 

 was 1806. 



Q. Have you ever fished or been for fish to the Bay Chaleur, proper? 

 A. Into the bay? I have been there but I never caught any fish in 

 the Bay Chaleur at all. I have been there once or twice. 



Q. Have you fished in the bend of the island; that is, Prince Edward 

 Jslaud, in vessels ! A. I have tried. I have been in vessels that-tried 

 up the island, but never caught any mackerel to speak of in the bend. 



Q. Is it safe or dangerous? A. It is the most dangerous place I 

 know of in the gulf. 



Q. Why? A. Such a deep bend and shoal water. It is impossible 

 for a vessel to get out. After a wind has been three hours blowing it 

 would be almost impossible for a vessel to get out. 



Q. How is it with respect to taking refuge in the harbors? A. The 

 harbors are very dangerous to enter, except they get in before the breeze 

 comes on or in the day time. They are not fit to enter in the night time 

 in bad weather. 



Q. Why? A. They are barred harbors and shoal water. 



Q. What do you mean by barred harbors? A. A bar of land stretch- 

 ' ing across the mouth. 



Q. Have you ever fished in the vicinity of Margaree ? A. I have. 



Q. What time of the year? A. October, I thiuk. 



Q. At what distance from the shore of the island have you fished in 

 that vicinity ? A. I have fished all the way from three or four miles, 

 but in sight of the land ten or fifteen miles off. 



Q. Have you ever fished close inside of there? A. No. 



Q. Have you ever fished inside of three miles of the island ? A. I 

 might have been in within three miles. I don't think 1 have caught any 

 fish there. 



Q. Have the mackerel been found this summer in schools ? A. No. I 

 haven't seen a school of mackerel since I have been in the bay. No 

 large body of mackerel I haven't seen. 



Q. Can the vessels make a profitable catch of fish unless there is a 

 large school ? A. No ; 1 don't think they can. 



Q. How do you manage in boats? How have you got your 100 bar- 

 rels? A. I have been out every morning when there was a chance at 



