2398 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



to the boats and found there was nothing doing. When they did try 

 they didn't do anything. 



Q. But you didn't give it a successful trial, I should say. I may be 

 wrong. Your general fishing was outside ! Your idea of fishing was 

 outside? A. Yes; that is what we fitted for. 



Q. Well, you failed year after year for five years and didn't try in- 

 shore ? A. O, we tried it. 



Q. I asked you how often, and yon mentioned once or twice, or three 

 or four times. Now I am speaking of a successful testing of it for a 

 season. What I would like to hear would be some person who has 

 tested it for a season. For instance, we have had vessel after vessel, 

 and witness after witness; we have had a hundred vessels that ran in 

 as close as they could get to the shore, and then drifted off until they got 

 beyond three miles, and then came in again, and repeated the operation, 

 continuing that course of fishing for a whole season. We have had 

 hundreds of them. A. I don't think I was ever near enough. 



Q. For instance, at St. Anns, we had the evidence of the collector 

 of customs, of vessels at St. Anns running in there and drifting off in 

 the way I have described. You never tried that! A. No; I never 

 tried to follow it up. 



Q. Perhaps you might try that next year. It might be a hint ? A. 

 No; I don't think I shall. I have had two successive trips. 



Q. You will make money out of these mackerel this year. What will 

 you sell them for? You bought some at 83.50? A. No, I didn't. 



Q. You didn't buy any this year ? A. No, we didn't buy any mackerel. 



Q. It was last year ? A. We went there purposely to buy, but didn't 

 buy anything. 



Q. You were giving the price they were selling for! A. Yes. 



Q. They were selling for $10.50 and $3.50 ? A. Yes. 



Q. You would have made money if you had bought them ? A. I don't 

 think so. I would sell mine now for $10.50. 



Q. There. But what will you sell them for at home? A. I think 

 $7.50, $11, and $16, is the last quotation. 



Q. Did you have any colonial fishermen, province fishermen, on board 

 your vessel any time ? A. No. Do you mean, did we have any em- 

 ployed ! No. 



Q. That is unusual for an American vessel not to have a majority of 

 provincial men on board? A. Yes; I should judge about two- thirds. 



Q. Well, does it not occur to you that that may be the reason you didn't 

 succeed. You wanted a little of the provincial element on board ? A. 

 No; I don't think we needed that at all. 



Q. Well, we have had many instances where they have done well and 

 made large catches. They understood where to catch fish. Have you 

 ever heard of the practice of lee-bowing boats? A. No. I have heard 

 of lee-bowing vessels. 



Q. You have tried to lee-bow vessels? A. Yes; I have tried that. 



Q. You consider that all right enough? A. Yes. I should consider it 

 fair. 



Q. Well, it is just as fair to lee-bow a boat as a vessel? A. I don't 

 know hosv to lee-bow a boat 



Q. Would it not be just as fair! I don't ask you whether you did it 

 or not ? A. I don't know whether it is as fair or not, because I don't 

 know how. 



Q. That would not have the slightest effect on its fairness, whether 

 you know or not ? A. I don't know anything about that. 



Q. Suppose I tell you how ? A. Well, then it would be fair enough. 



