AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. . .2575 



years, you found little benefit from the inshore fishing, that it does not 

 amount t'o much. The first year you took out a license what was your 

 motive? A. I 'took it out to protect myself from the risk of my not 

 knowing where the three-mile line was. 



Q. Why could you not know ? A. Well, if a cutter overhauled me 

 the commander would decide instead of me. He would not allow me to 

 have any voice about it. 



Q. Was there any question as to how the lines were to be run? A. 

 It was a matter I did not understand. It was a matter of dispute. Some 

 said the line ran from headland to headland, and others said it did not. 

 I did not know how the cutters might decide on that. 



Q. You had heard that different claims were made? A. I had heard 

 that different claims were made, and that there were disputes. 



Q. Except because of the disputes that might arise as to your being 

 three or five miles or more out, or as to the manner in which the line 

 was to be run ; as to the mere value of the fish to be caught, would you 

 have given anything for the license? A. But very little, if anything. 



Q. How much would you have given? A. A very small sum. 



Q. Not as much as was charged ? A. No. 



Q. Which would be most profitable to you as a fisherman or dealer in 

 fish, to have the duty of $2 a barrel on again and be excluded from the 

 three-mile limit, or to be admitted to within the three miles and have 

 the dutj' off? A. If I was going fishing again I would prefer having a 

 duty on and be excluded from the three miles. 



Q. Suppose this three-mile line could have been marked to run, not 

 from headland to headland, but to follow the indentations of the cpast, 

 by some mark as intelligible as a fence on shore is between one man's 

 farm and another, so that no question would be involved, would you 

 then give anything for the right to fish inside of that fence? A. No. 



Q. Do you know anything about the herring fishery off the coast of 

 the United States ? A. I have often heard it spoken of, and I have seen 

 herring brought into Gloucester many times. 



Q. Does Gloucester export herring? A. It does. 



Q. To what places? A. Gotteuburg is one place. I have seen ves- 

 sels employed catching herring off the coast of Massachusetts. 



Q. When did you last see them ? A. The last time I saw them was 

 on Saturday last. 



Q. You left Boston on Saturday in the steamer ? A. Yes. 

 , Q. Where did you see the herring- vessels fishing? A. Very near 

 Boston light-house, in among some little islands called Brewsters. 



Q. Perhaps the Graves ? A. Yes. 



Q. Did you take the trouble to count the vessels? A. I did. 



Q. How many were there ? A. I counted 51 ; there may have been 

 two or three more perhaps; 51 were within range. 



Q. You are sure there were 51 ? A. I am. 



Q. Has it been the custom for some years past for Gloucester and 

 other places to send small vessels to fish for herring off Boston and 

 in the bay there ? A. It has been for several years. 



Q. Do you know whether it is a profitable business ? A. I have fre- 

 quently seen them after they have been gone two or three days, come 

 back with their boats or vessels full. 



Q. Do they always return to Gloucester, or do they sometimes run 

 into Boston ? A. They often go into Boston ; they go into both places. 



Q. They land the herring fresh ? A. Yes ; and sell them fresh some- 

 times. 



