2500 AWARE JF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



you observed between the fishing at the time you had liberty to fish 

 without respect to the three-mile limit and the time when there was an 

 obstruction ? A. Yes, sir. Since I was quite young and went there 

 myself in 1837 I have always thought it an advantage to us, the fishiug 

 within three miles. 



Q. How did that compare in your opinion with the advantage of hav- 

 ing duties laid upon British fish coming into your markets! A. I 

 sbould say, taking the duties into consideration, reciprocity was always 

 against us. 



Q. Now you know the opinion of the fishing people in Maine. It has 

 been your duty to examine and go to every town once a year. What 

 was the general opinion you found among the fishermen and fish-deal- 

 ers as to the benefit they got from the Reciprocity Treaty as fishermen, 

 balancing the privilege of fishing inshore against the removal of the 

 duties ? A. Well, sir, I have spent a good deal of time, especially when 

 I was inspector for the State, in trying to get at public opinion in those 

 fishing towns. I have consulted a great many captains and owners of 

 vessels. From 1860 to '63, '64, '65, and '66 there was not a great deal 

 said about it, because the mackerel were plenty in the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence ; but so far as I know for several years before the treaty was re- 

 pealed they were very glad to see the time coming that we should be 

 placed back where we were under the Treaty of 1818. The feeling was 

 strongly against reciprocity. 



Q. That is with reference to the fishery clauses of the treaty ? A. Yes; 

 in reference to fish. I didn't refer to anything else. 



Q. Do you say that from your observations and the experience you 

 have had that there was a strong opinion among the people of Maine 

 engaged in the fisheries ? A. Yes. 



Q. They preferred to go back to the arrangement by which they were 

 excluded from the inshore grounds and had power to impose duties on 

 British fish ? A. Yes. 



Q. Well, from your whole experience dowu to within the last lew 

 years, is there much value in your judgment in the inshore fisheries, 

 that is, within three miles? A. I think there is a value. 



Q. I asked if there was much ? A. No ; I don't think it is great ; but 

 I think there is a value in the inshore fisheries. 



Q. It is more for the boats than for vessels, is it not ? How is that? 

 A. I don't know anything about boats. We only go there in vessels 

 from 50 to 100 tons. There is a value and a fear. We were very glad 

 our way when we had the privilege of buying licenses of the English 

 folks. 



Q. You are probably looking to a different point from that to which 

 I directed yon, but you may go on with reference to the apprehensions 

 you used to have when it was not permitted to you to go within. What were 

 they? A. Well, there were a great many captains that had no interest 

 in the vessels, and they would seem to take risks that they ought not 

 of fishing inshore. Somehow they seemed to have an impression that 

 it was no harm to catch fish inshore if they were not caught. 



Q. Now, what other reasons influenced you besides the fear that the 

 captains would actually go inshore ? A. Well, it was a great point to 

 determine when a vessel was within three miles. There was nothing to 

 indicate it, and it was a matter of judgment between the American ves- 

 sels and the cruisers. The vessels seemed to be apprehensive that they 

 would be taken oft three, four, five, or six miles. 



Q. Now, from your experience, is it, or is it not, difficult to determine 

 from a vessel, especially when the shore is high, what distance you are 



