AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2551 



Q. For nine months ? A. Yes 



Q. For how much would he insure the vessel? A. For geven-eighths 

 of her actual value, I think. 



Q. What would be the taxes levied in Gloucester on a vessel costing 

 $ 7,000 ? A. Somewhere about $36, 1 think. Do you mean for the whole 

 year? 



Q. Yes ; I want to see how the owner who puts $7,000 in money into 

 a vessel comes out. What percentage of the policy of insurance must 

 he lose in order to recover value under the policy ? A. About 12 per 

 cent, on a vessel of that description. As a vessel grows older the rate 

 is higher, and then it ranges from 12 to 20 per cent, on sails and rig- 

 ging. 



Q. That is the amount on the vessel which cannot be underwritten f 

 A. There has to be that amount taken off before the company holds 

 itself responsible. 



Q. Do your policies cover the value of cables and rigging ? A. No ; 

 that is a total loss. 



Q. If the 400 barrels of mackerel were caught in less than four months, 

 the figures would be altered and the expenses would be less ? A. Yes. 



Q. How would this be on the whole ? A. It would not be proportion- 

 ately less, if outfits were taken for a voyage of that kiud ; but for a 

 short voyage the expenses might be something less. 



Q. How much must mackerel sell for a barrel to make the business a 

 successful one for the merchant ? A. Well, we consider the business to 

 be best when the prices are low and the quantity offering large ; such a 

 year we consider to be the most favorable. 



Q. Why ? A. The mackerel are then more evenly distributed ; all 

 get a portion ; and we find that such years make the best years in the 

 business. When mackerel are down to $9 or $10 a barrel, we make 

 more successful voyages, but when high prices rule, we find that the 

 market does not take a large quantity of fish. 



Q. Why not ? A. I do not know, save it be because the people won't 

 then eat the fish. 



Q. Who eat the common mackerel ; where do these go? A. A great 

 portion of this quality of mackerel goes to the Southwest and West. 



Q. Are these eaten in the New England States ? A. They are used 

 there very little, I think. 



Q. Mess mackerel, which is quite expensive, how large a quantity 

 of that does the market take f A. The demand is quite limited. It is 

 aten most on our large seaboard cities. 



Q. Now, at $20, supposing the mackerel are of the best quality, how 

 many barrels would be sold in your estimation ? A. I should judge 

 10,000 barrels would be all that could be sold on the market at the price 

 of $20 or upward. 



Q. Have you had any experience in selling mackerel to merchants to 

 sell again, with reference to the effect of a high or the low price as to 

 the amount that a dealer would take ? A. I have had considerable ex- 

 perience in selling mackerel. 



Q. Yon sell mackerel to go howfar*West. A. My customers are mostly 

 on the New York Central Boad to Chicago, Minnesota, some around 

 Saint Louis. 



Q. You mentioned to me an instance of a customer wjio took a con- 

 siderable quantity of you at last year's prices. I wish you would relate 

 them to the Commission ? A. It was in Indiana. Last year he had 

 some. During the season he had some 1,000 or 1,200 barrels. 



Q. At what price? A. $7 and $8. 



