2420 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. What have you done siuce 1873! A. In 1874 and 1875 I was on 

 our coast. 



Q. And what have yon been doing in 187G and 1877 ! A. Banking. 



Q. Where ? A. At the Grand and Western Banks. 



Q. What is the name of the vessel of which you are skipper now ? 

 A. The Plymouth Rock. 



Q. You were in the same vessel last year? A. No, I was then in the 

 schooner Knight Templar. 



Q. How have you provided yourself with bait for Bank fishing last 

 year and this year ? A. I took fresh bait from Gloucester this season in 

 the spring. My first trip was made to Western Bank ; I also used fresh. 

 bait last year. 



Q. What did you take for bait ? A. Frozen herring, from Gloucester. 



Q. Did you obtain any other bait ? A/Yes, we went to St. Andrew's 

 Bay, on the American side, and baited the second time. 



Q. Where is that ? A. About Eastport. 



Q. What bait did you get there? A. Fresh herring. 



Q. What did you do after you made your trip to the Western Bank ? 

 A. We went to Newfoundland direct from Gloucester then. 



Q. You did not provide yourself with bait at home? A. No, we went 

 to Fortune Bay and bought herring, putting them in ice. 



Q. How often have you been to Newfoundland to buy bait this year? 

 A. Four times. . 



Q. Have you ever caught any herring there ? A. No. 



Q. Or capliu ? A. No. 



Q. Have you ever obtained either save by purchase? A. No. 



Q. Did you ever get squid there ? A. Yes. 



Q. How? A. We bought them. 



Q. Has there been any squid taken on your vessel ? A. Yes, \vhen 

 Banking. 



Q. Under what circumstances ? A. It is like this : when we go to New- 

 foundland and bait is plentiful it pays us better to buy it, and then go 

 on our trip, than to try and catch it ourselves, thus losing time, and when 

 squid are scarce, we catch a lew, and help to make up what we want so 

 as- to save time; that is our only object in catching them ourselves. 



Q. Are your men at leisure to fish for squid ? A. No. 



Q. What do they do at this time? A. They have water to fill in, 

 and ice to get; and as soon as the bait comes alongside, we have to use 

 the men to hoist it on board. 



Q. When do your men ever catch bait ? A. At nights. 



Q. How many squid in all do you suppose your vessels ever jigged or 

 took T A. At the outside, 20 barrels in 2 seasons last year and this 

 year. 



Q. How long does it take you to go in from the Banks to Newfound- 

 land, obtain bait and return to your fishing grounds? A. A fair aver 

 age time would be about a week. 



Q. What is the longest time ? A. Nine days, to my knowledge. 



Q. And the shortest ? A. Five days, I think. 



Q. What did your bait cost in Newfoundland this year? A. The 

 whole thing, port charges and all cost me about $400 on the last trip. 



Q. Did you have these bills, I now hand you, to pay ? A. Yes.. 



Q. What are they for ? A. This one, $4' 80, was for water rates. I 

 cannot tell you what it is for, I am sure. We have to pay them whether 

 we fill in with water or not. It is a government bill. It rates 5 cents 

 a ton. 



Q. What is the next for ? A. Light dues ; it amounts to $23.04. 



