2506 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. You did understand the question ? A. I understood at the time it 

 passed, but bow many years is it since it passed ? 



Q. Well, never mind. What did you suppose this Commission was 

 for? A. I haven't thought of it for years. 



Q. You didn't know we were trying that very question now ? A. I 

 did. 



Q. You gave your evidence with that knowledge ? A. Yes. 



Q. You think now that the value of the inshore fishery has changed ? 

 A. No j I have the same opinion that I have always had. I have said 

 all through that they were valuable to us. 



Q. Now with regard to the right of carrying our fish free into the 

 United States, I suppose you think that is of no advantage to your fisher- 

 men, that provision of the treaty ? A. I have no idea it is any advantage 

 to our side of the house. 



Q. It is a disadvantage, isn't it? A. Yes; it is against us. 



Q. Be kind enough to explain how? A. Well, all these things seem 

 to me to be regulated by supply and demand. If there is 100,000 bar- 

 rels of mackerel hove into our market on top of what we produce the 

 tendency is to depreciate prices. 



Q. If this provision of the treaty increases the supply of mackerel in 

 the United States market it will bring down the price offish ? A. State 

 that again. 



(Question repeated.) A. I think it would have that tendency. 



Q. That is the reason you think it is no advantage to your fisher- 

 men to have the privilege of fishing inside ? A. !Xo ; putting both pro- 

 visions of the treaty together, it is no advantage, because the supply is 

 increased and the prices are depreciated. 



Q. You will admit this, that it is an advantage to the consumers by 

 bringing down the price? You will admit that? A. Yes. 



Q. Then in point of fact it gives you cheap fish ? A. The tendency is 

 to cheapen them. 



Q. For the people of the United States ? A. Yes. 



WILFOED J. FISHER, of Eastport, Me., called on behalf of the Gov- 

 ernment of the United States, sworn and examined. 



By Mr. Trescot : 



Question. Of what place are you a native ? Answer. Grand Mauan. 



Q. How old are you ? A. Fifty -six. 



Q. Where do you live now ? A. At Eastport, Me. 



Q. How old were you when you moved to Eastport ? A. I could not 

 tell you without thinking. 



Q. You are fifty-six years old now. How long have you lived at 

 Eastport! A. Since 1845. 



Q. What is your present occupation at Eastport? A. I am agent of 

 an express company, and am doing a general commission business. 



Q. How long have you been doing that? A. For the last six years. 



Q. Do you recollect how old you were when you left Grand Manaii 

 and went to Eastport? A. I left Grand Mauau when I was twenty-two 

 years of age. 



Q. While you lived on Grand Mauan what was your occupation? A. 

 My father kept an extensive fishing establishment and was fitting out 

 fishing vessels. I worked with him until I was twenty-one or twenty- 

 two years of age. 



