2422 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



they have always bought herring;. I have never been on a herring trip, 

 but* I understand that this is the case. 



Q. When you speak of one-sixth of the business of Gloucester being 

 engaged in the mackerel fishery, do you refer to the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence mackerel fishery? A. I should say that is for the whole thing. 



Q. Do you know about the mackerel fishery on the coast of the United 

 States? A. 1 did not think about it; for the last two or three years 

 most of the mackerel have been caught on our own coast. You all 

 know that as well as I do. 



Q. You said that your average time spent in getting bait was 7 days ? 

 A. About a week. 



By Mr. Weatherbe : . 



Q. You fished in the Reunion in 1866? A. Yes. 



Q. That is the first time you went fishing? A. O, no; but that is 

 the first time I was in the bay. I have fished since 1861, when I was 

 11 years old. 



Q. Where did you then fish ? A. On the Grand Banks. 



Q. You did very well in the bay in 1866 ? A. Yes. 



Q. Why did you not stick to the Reunion ? A. When it comes fall 

 we make a change. Our mackerel season is up in the fall. 1 went two 

 trips to the bay in her. 



By Mr. Foster : 



Q. Do you know anything about the herring business at Grand Ma- 

 nan ? A. Yes ; but very little. 



Q. Have you been there? A. Yes. 



Q. When? A. Last spring and this year; but I did not take any 

 bait there. I took bait, however, last season at Bliss Island. 



Q. Do you know of any catch of herrings being made by Americans 

 iu that vicinity? A. No; there has never been one to my knowledge. 



By Mr. Weatherbe : 



Q. Do you know where the Reunion went in 1867 ? A. No; she had 

 then changed masters. 



Q. Who was she owned by ? A. William Henry Steele, then, I think. 



Q. Of Gloucester? A. Yes. 



Q. Is it the custom of Gloucester fishermen to remain in the employ 

 of the same owners ? A. Xo ; they change about. 



Q. Constantly ? A. Yes. 



Q. The rule is to change about? A. I do not know about that, but 

 they do so. 



Q. What is the usual practice? A. To make changes. 



Q. Do they remain with the same owners year after year ? A. No. 



Q. Do you know what the Reunion caught iu 1867 ? A. No. 



Q. Did you then make any inquiries about her? A. No. 



Q. Do you not hear what catches vessels make? A. We do pretty 

 well when we attend to our own business. 



Q. You are not able to state the catches of other vessels ? A. No. 



Q. Or to give any information iu this respect save for your own ves- 

 sel? A. No. 



Q. Most of the fishermen would be likely to know only what their 

 own vessels did ? A. They will do pretty well if they know that. 



<J. Some fishermen frequent certain places in the bay and others 

 other places 1 A. Yes. 



Q. And some always go to the Magdalen Islands? A. Yes: that 



IS so. 



