AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION: 2447 



another? Is it not your idea that the same mackerel go out and in ? 

 A. Yes, it is my opinion that the mackerel go out and in, and we know 

 they do. But it is niy positive idea that the best fish that go into the 

 Bay Chaleurs go through the strait and by Sydney. 



Q. Do you mean the Strait of Ganso I A. No, the Strait of Belleisle 

 and come down to Sydney. 



Q. What time! A. Well, they are passing up and down there after 

 the month of August until they all go out. 



Q. You think these are not the same as you catch off the north of the 

 island ? A. No, I don't. 



Q. Do you think your opinion is general ? A. Yes, sir. 



Q. That they are a different class of fish altogether f A. Yes. 



Q. Might it not be just that yoa catch them later in the year when 

 they are tatter? A. Well, after September comes in they don't fat up 

 much. 



Q. Don't you think it is because you get later and fatter mackerel ? 

 A. No, I don't think that is the reason. I don't think fish fatten arfy 

 after the middle of September. 



Q. At any rate take the coast of the island itself. If you fish out in 

 de*> p water you think you catch better fish f A. Yes. 



Q. Then you must be under the impression that they divide and the 

 best remain outside while the poor ones come inside ? A. I don't know 

 but what one fish is as good as another, but it takes food to make the 

 fish. 



Q. Is it not a fact that they feed in close to the shore ? A. There is 

 food, but not such healthy food as outside. 



Q. That is your theory ? A. Yes. 



Q. Then it is altogether a question of food. You think they get 

 better food inside ? A. Yes. 



Q. And if it turned out that they got better food inshore you would 

 change your opinion ? You would say, then, that you would catch more 

 mackerel inshore than off! If you found that the mackerel got their 

 food inshore, you would perhaps change your opinion with regard to 

 the matter ! A. Well, if there was better fish inshore than off, I should 

 know there was better food inshore. 



Q. Well, if the mackerel feed in eight fathoms, wherever that is, to- 

 day, are they not to be found inshore to morrow! Don't the same 

 mackerel move about? A. They move just which way the food moves. 



Q. Then they move about everywhere ? A. Well, I could not say for 

 that. I have caught mackerel for four or five days in one place and not 

 seen any again for three weeks. " , 



Q Was that the same school, do you think, or were they moving 

 about ? A. I think the fish was moving about. 



Q. The first you encountered would be away, and others would fill their 

 places? A. Yes. 



Q. Off the bend of the island will you not find eight fathoms within 

 a mile of the island in many places ? A. Yes, there are many places 

 there that you will find eight fathoms within a mile, I presume. 



Q. Within half a mile ? A. Well, I never looked personally eta the 

 chart. I never calculated to stop around there a great deal, anyhow. 



Q. What you mean is, that if you find them in eight fathoms you 

 would get the best mackerel there ? A. No, I don't mean that. 



Q. Well, suppose you would catch them in eight fathoms, would you 

 call them eel-grass mackerel ? A. No, if they were nice fish I should 

 not. If they were poor fish, with black bellies, I would call them ell- 

 grass mackerel. It doesn't make any odds if they were caught in two 

 fathoms. 



