AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2545 



surface of the water there as they do on our coast ; these are the two 

 chief reasons for it. Besides, the bottom in the gulf is of such a character 

 that it does not well admit of seining ; the seines are torn in it, and it 

 has been found very difficult on that account. I never saw mackerel 

 rise to the surface there anywhere else than around Prince Edward 

 Island, where I have so seen some close in around the shore in the surf; 

 but I have never seen mackerel rise to the surface around the Magdalen 

 Islands. 



Q. And you cannot seine them unless they do rise to the surface! 

 A. You have got to have them school on the surface of the water before 

 you can so inclose them. 



Q. When you are fishing generally and throwing bait over, do you 

 not see thenTin the same way? A. They then rise and come up along- 

 side of the vessel, but they do not usually seine them in that way, but 

 when they see the fish coming along in schools, they go out in boats 

 and cast their seines around these schools. 



Q. Why can you not seine them when you throw out bait aud thus 

 raise schools? A. They usually do not seine them that way. 



Q. You do not kuow whether it could be done or not! A. O, yes; 

 it has been tried and sometimes a few are caught that way ; but not 

 enough to make a business of it. 



Q. Where were the best mackerel found in the gulf during the years 

 when you were a fisherman? A. I always found the best at the Mag- 

 dalen Islands. 



Q. What did you regard as the safest fishing-ground in the bay ? A. 

 The Magdalen Islands. 



Q. Why ? A. Because you can make a lee there with the wind in any 

 direction. 



Q. Since you gave up fishing yourself, you have, of course, no per- 

 sonal knowledge as to the particular places where your vessels and other 

 Gloucester vessels have gone to ; but have you any means of knowing 

 their usual fishing grounds? A. Yes; by talking with the captains 

 when they come home. 



Q. Have you been in the habit of making inquiries on this subject? 

 A. I mostly talk the matter over with them, and ask where they have 

 taken their voyage. This is mostly our first inquiry. 



Q. Where have your vessels chiefly fished ? A. At the Magdalen 

 Islands, in the bay, though in one case in particular some sixty barrels 

 were once taken toward the last of the trip between Souris and Cape 

 'George ; but that is the only instance which I recollect. 



Q. Do you-regard the fishing-grounds within three miles of the shore 

 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence as of much or of little value ? A. I never 

 considered them to be of any great value. 



Q. How is it that the boats can do well fishing inshore when the ves- 

 sels cannot do sol A. Well, one man might go out and catch a few 

 fish along shore; but if a vessel did so, when they came to divide the 

 proceeds among the crew it would not pay them to stop there; one or 

 two men might take a barrel of surf-mackerel in a day, aud it would be 

 a good day's work for them, though that would not pay 17 men. 



Q. How much bait have you ever thrown over in a day in the Kit 

 Carson, the largest vessel in which you fished ? A. I have thrown 6 

 barrels over in one day. 



Q. How much did it cost a barrel ? A. It would average $5 or $6 ; 

 however, on some days we would throw over but little bait. 



Q. How deep do you think the water must be to enable a school of 

 mackerel to be raised aud to afford a good day's fishing ? A. Well, I 

 160 F 



