AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2483 



of fish is to be got there, bat you can go off shore 3 miles and outside 

 of that, and get fish. 



Q. Were you ever a pilot for a government vessel ? A. Yes ; this 

 was before confederation in 1854.. 



Q. What were the names of the vessel and her captain 1 A. Re- 

 sponsible was the vessel's name, and Philip Dodd the name of the 

 captain. 



Q. What was this vessel doing while you were pilot ? A. We were 

 looking after the American fishermen. 



Q. For what purpose ? A. To see that they did not intrude on the 

 shore fisheries. We cruised on the north side of Prince Edward Island, 

 around on the south side of Cape Bretou, and occasionally on the north 

 side of Cape Breton. 



Q. How long were you on that vessel? A. Five or six months," I 

 should say. 



Q. Did you find the American vessels fishing within 3 miles of the 

 shore? A. We did not find any fishing within three miles of the shore ; 

 they were all outside of that limit. 



Q. Were any seizures made ? A. None were made by the Re- 

 sponsible. 



Q. Did you see any made by other vessels ? A. No; but I heard of 

 this being done. 



Q. Who owned the Responsible ? A. My father. 



Q. And how did the government happen to have her under charge ? 

 A. They chartered her from my father. 



Q. Have you seen the boats go off-shore and fish in company with 

 United States vessels ? A. Yes ; I saw this occur between Port Hood 

 and Margaree Island, where we used to cruise considerably. I saw 

 Scotch boats, as I call them, pull off and make fast to American schoon- 

 ers, and get a good quantity of fish, loading their boats and going 

 ashore; and that was outside of the three-mile limit. 



Q. You saw them made fast to the American schooners f A. Yes. 



Q. According to your observation, does fishing by the American ves- 

 sels injure the boat fishery ? A. Xo. 



Q. Why not ? A. Because, on the grounds where they fish, as far 

 as I have seen, the Americans feed the fish by heaving over quantities 

 of bait. 



Q. Are any fishing- vessels fitted out from Halifax; and, if so, how 

 many ? A. I do not exactly know, but there are not many fitted out 

 'from Halifax. 



Q. Are there any ! A. I do not know of any. 



Q. Do the fishermen up here in the provinces, as far as you have ob- 

 served, get rich ! A. Xo ; they are generally poor. 



Q. Do thej r lay up money ? A. Xo. 



Q. By whom is the money made on fish ? A. By the merchants in 

 Halifax. 



By Mr. Thomson : 



Q. Are you a practical fisherman yourself? A. Yes. 



Q. How long have you been engaged in fishing? A. I caught my 

 first; fish. when I was 14 years old. 



Q. And how old are you ? A. Fifty-four. 



Q. And have you been engaged in fishing ever since you were 14 ? 

 A. No ; not all the time. I have been a pilot as well as a fisherman. 



Q. Do you call yourself a practical fisherman ? A. I do. 



Q. Have you gone on fishing-voyages ? A. I am a practical boat- 

 fisherman. 



