2418 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



practice of fishing there, any longer than with a good wind we could go 

 from one end of it to the other, going or coming. 



Q. What is the reason! A. It is because it is a bad place, and I did 

 not like to stop there. It is well enough, however, close to North Cape 

 and East Point, where you can watch your chance to get round when 

 there comes a northeaster. 



By Mr. Doutre : 



Q. I understand that your catch this year was an average one? A. 

 I think we got an average with the American fleet, as far as I have heard. 

 Mr. Murray, of the custom-house at Canso, said that we had an average, 

 or more than an average, with the American fleet. 



Q. Do you not think that you came Aher late fishing to, and have 

 come rather early from the bay ? A. wQid not see any prospect of 

 catching anything when I left, and so I thought I would come home. 

 Something may yet be done though. 



Q. Is it not to your knowledge that the mackerel generally come in ia 

 abundance later than this date ? A. No ; not of late years. I have not, 

 during the last 5 or 6 years, heard of much being done late in the sea- 

 son in the bay. 



Q. What is the quality of the mackerel which you have taken this 

 year? A. Well, they run rather poor; thay are mostly 2s, and thin 

 mackerel. They have not had much food ; they are not fat. 



Q. What proportion is number ones ? A. I do not think one-quarter, 

 if that. They, however, may be so this year, since mackerel are scarce. 



Q. What do you expect to get for number ones? A. About $16 or 

 $18. I hear that they are worth that, but I do not know. 



Q. Have you not heard that No. 1 mess mackerel are bringing 22 ? 

 A. We have no mess mackerel ; we did not iness any ; and we have 

 very few lit for mess. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. Did you fish with seines or hand-lines ? A. We fished with hand- 

 lines. 



Q. Were many American vessels fishing with seines this year in the 

 gulf ? A. I did not see any use them, though a number had seines. I 

 have not seen a school in the bay. 



Q. When you spoke of menhaden-fishing, you spoke of a number of 

 steamers being employed in it ? A. Yes. 



Q. How far from the coast do these steamers take menhaden ? A. 

 They go sometimes 8 or 10 miles off, and sometimes inside of the islands 

 and among the islands. 



Q. Do they take menhaden with purse seines ? A. Yes. 



By Hon. Mr. Kellogg : 



Q. Do you generally seine for mackerel when they school ? A. Yes. 

 Q. Do you do so at any other time ! A. No. 



No. 41. 



ELVABADO GRAY, seaman and fisherman, of Brooksville, Me., was 

 called on behalf of the Government of the United States, sworn, and 

 examined. 



By Mr. Foster: 



Question. You are a skipper of a Gloucester vessel 'Answer. Yes. 

 Q. What is the name of your vessel? A. Plymouth Rock. 

 Q. How old are you ? A. Twenty-eight. 



