AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2401 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. Were you there as late as the 22d of September ! A. Yes. 



Q. That was the day of the storm ? A. Yes. 



Q. Now I want to ask you, for a few days previously, a week or a 

 fortnight previously, did you see any mackerel vessels along the coast? 

 A. Yes, the day before the breeze I saw six go up the bight toward 

 Cascumpeque and Malpeque, and that way. 



Q. Well, taking the week or fortnight previously, how many would 

 you say you have seen ? A. I did not see a great many the last week 

 or ten days we were there at all. The last day before the breeze I 

 might have seen some passing and repassing, nothing to speak of. I 

 suppose it was a mouth ago when I saw a large fleet. 



Q. You did not go up along the coast to East Point the week previ- 

 ous to the 22d 1? Did you go along toward East Point ? A. No further 

 than I went in a boat, sometimes five or six miles. 



Q. I wanted to see whether you had seen the fleet that was at East 

 Point at all ? A. No ; I didn't see the East Point fleet at all. 



No.. 38. 



PETER H. MILLS, of Deer Isle, in the State of Maine, farmer and 

 fisherman, called on behalf of the Government of the United States, 

 sworn and examined. 



By Mr. Trescot : 



Question. Where is your place of residence ? Answer. Deer Island. 



Q. How long, have you been living there ? A. About 26 years. , 



Q. Where is Deer Island ? A. In Penobscot Bay ; about 70 miles 

 southward of Bangor. 



Q. What has been your occupation ? A. Fishing, farming, and some 

 mechanical business. 



Q. What has been, during 20 years, the chief occupation of the peo- 

 ple of Deer Island ? Fishing ? A. Yes, sir ; mackerel-fishing mostly. 



Q. Well, in the 20 years of your experience has there been very 

 much change in the character of the business ? A. There has. 



Q. How ? A. It has depreciated. 



Q. What was the average fleet of Deer Island when you knew it ? 

 A. I haven't any records, but from my judgment I should say perhaps 

 150 sail of vessel. 

 . Q. About what tonnage ? A. They would average 50 tons. . 



Q. What is the fleet now I A. There may be 25 sail of vessel, and 

 there may not be so many. 



Q. Where has the fleet fished ; in the gulf ? A. Years past they have 

 fished in the gulf. 



Q. Where are they fishing now mostly ? A. On the coast of the 

 United States. 



Q. Well, then, to what do you attribute the depreciation ; to the fail- 

 ure of the mackerel or of the profit in the business ? A. There doe s 

 not seem to be a profit in the business. 



Q. In your 20 years' experience of Deer Island, has anybody realized 

 a fortune ? A. No ; not that I know of. 



Q. You know the neighborhood of Deer Island well ? How far are 

 you from Castiue ? A. 20 miles. 



Q. Was there any time when that was a large fishing place? A. 

 Yes. 



Q. How is it now ? A. It is dull, extremely dull. 

 151 F 



