AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2557 



Q. Would uot the influx of a very large quantity of fish materially 

 affect the price ? A. It would iiot materially affect it at the present 

 market rates. 



Q. Why ? A. Because the prices have got down now to where the 

 market will take mackerel ; at higher rates it would have effect. 



Q. Do you mean to say that almost any quantity could be consumed 

 at the present low prices ? A. Well, a large quantity. 



Q. Well, I mean any reasonable quantity thatcouldcoraein? A. Well, 

 year before last we had a very large catch, and the markets seemed to 

 take them. 



Q. Well, I will put my question in another way. Suppose one quarter 

 of the mackerel now supplied were withdrawn from the market, what 

 effect would it have as to prices ? A. Well, I suppose the price would 

 be somewhat higher, but the market would not take them beyond a cer- 

 tain point. 



Q. Now, see. Take them at the prices now ruling. Supposing one- 

 fourth of the quantity now in the market was withdrawn, would not the 

 price of the three fourths remaining naturally and inevitably rise ! A. 

 They would rise some. 



Q. In consequence of the withdrawal of the one quarter ? A. I think 

 it would affect it some ; not more than 50 cents a barrel : I think it 

 would to that amount. 



Q. The reason I ask is that, examining your statistics, I find that the 

 price of mackerel rises and falls more than any other commodity I know 

 of, going sometimes from $'J2 down to $7. Is not that caused chiefly 

 by the large quantity brought into the market ? A. It is not. If you 

 will allow me to illustrate the case, I will take mackerel that sold for 

 $22 some years ago, and after months of consumption, without any mack- 

 erel coming in, they went down to $6. 



Q. What year was that ? A. I will uot be' exact. I think about five 

 years ago I sold some for $22 in the fall, and afterwards they went for 

 $6, and none came in. 



Q. Are you sure about that ? A. I am sure. 



Q. Bow do you know none came in ? A. I say no new catch. 



Q. 1 fancy the year you and I refer to is the same. I will read from 

 the annual report of the Chief of Statistics for 1871. I find that No. 1 

 mackerel in January were selling for $22 a barrel to $22.50 ; in February 

 the same ; in March the same; in April the same ; in May they dropped 

 to $18; in June they, were $18. That is as the spring catch comes in 

 in May and June. A. There are uot many come in May. 



Q. Well, in June. I am told they go in April, and I assume that at 

 the lattx.-r end of May some would come in. A. Not many salt fish until 

 June. 



Q. Well, the fresh would be coming in to take the place of the salt. 

 A. I don't think many. 



Q. Well, I will take June. Some would come in then. A. The last 

 of June. 



Q. Very well. Theu in July they dropped to $12 ; in August to $7. 

 A. I think those reports are based on the retail prices that they were 

 in the market, not the Gloucester prices. 



Q. Well, I am speaking of the market prices which the mackerel 

 bring. I am reading from a statement showing the prices of staple 

 articles in the New York market at the beginning of last month. A. 

 Well, the year I refer to I took our wholesale prices. I don't know what 

 the Washington markets or any of those New York markets might have 

 been charging. 



