2502 AWARD OF THK FISHERY COMMISSION. 



1837, and so in the year 1833, the two years I was mackerel-fishing 



in the gulf. 



Q. Well, you were not referring to any other years except those? A. 



So, I never was there. 



Q. And you were only speaking of those years? A. les, that is, in 

 regard to the headland question. 



Q. But you spoke of the cutters being very exacting? A. Well, oi 

 course, I only spoke of what I heard aboard those vessels. I knew 

 nothing about it. 



Q. You were just merely speaking of something you heard m Lb6t. 



A. Yes. 



Q. Uow often did you hear it that year? A. Well, I was down there 

 quite late in the fall, and it was a subject of constant conversation on 

 board our American vessels. 



Q. Don't you think you are mistaken ? A. About what? 



Q. How many cutters were there ? A. Three I think. 



Q. Did you ever see any cutter there that year ? A. I saw them 

 take those 'two Cape Ann vessels. I think it was 1837. I may be mis- 

 taken as to the year. 



Q. Y r ou only saw one. Yes. 



Q. How many did you say you saw ? A. I saw three of them, I think 

 it was, crnising'm the bay that fall I was there last time. 



Q. Were they exacting to you? A. No. 



Q. They didn't annoy you ? A. No. 



Q. You didn't fish inshore at all ? A. Yes, we did. I caught that 

 is, the vessel I was in 23 barrels. 



Q. But yon caught those in one day 1 A. Yes, one morning before 

 breakfast. 



Q. All the rest you caught outside ? A. Yes. 



Q. Y r ou never caught any except the 23 barrels of mackerel in- 

 shore ? A. That is all ever when I was engaged in the bay. 



Q. You caught these in the morning before breakfast ? A. Yes. 



Q. You never tried to fish inshore any other time. You fished off- 

 shore every other time except that ? A. I think so. 



Q. Was there a cutter in sight when you caught these ? A. No, sir. 

 If there had been we would not have been likely to catch them. 



Q. You said you had an idea it was right ? A. I was only speaking 

 of the opinions of the captain's. 



Q. That was the only time you ran any risk? A. Yes. We went off 

 St. Peter's early in the morning and got becalmed. 



Q. That is the only time you run any risk ? A. Y r es. 



Q. Where was that ? A. Right off St. Peter's. 



Q. That was pretty good fishing. You had a pretty good time ? A. 

 Y'es ; that is the best fishing I ever saw in my life aboard a vessel. 



Q. One would wonder why you didn't try it again ? A. We didn't try 

 it then. We were coming out of harbor and got becalmed, and the fish 

 came up all around us solid, apparently, and just as soon as wind 

 breezed up the fish all left us ; but during this time we had 23 barrels. 



Q. Well, you never tried it again ? A. I don't recollect that we ever 

 tried it again. 



Q. The cutter never troubled or boarded you any time whatever? A. 

 No. 



Q. From what experience you have had, your own personal experience, 

 the best fishing is inside ? A. Within three miles? 



Q. Certainly. A. Well, no. 



Q. You never saw anything better than that catch of 23 barrels for 



