AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. - 2587 



Q. Where have you been ? A. I have been to Prospect, which is not 

 far from Halifax ; to Whitehead, near the Strait of Canso ; to the Strait 

 of Causo; to Fortune Bay, Newfoundland; and St. Peter's on the coast 

 of Newfoundland; and to quite a number of harbors on the coast of 

 Newfoundland, not far from Fortune Bay. 



Q. In what year did you commence to go into those places for fresh 

 bait; what was the first year? A. I was at Prospect 10 or 11 years 

 ago. I think that was the first time I came into the Dominion for fresh 

 bait. 



Q. Have you continued to get fresh bait in different parts of the 

 Dominion and Newfoundland from 10 or 12 years ago till 1875 ? A. 

 Not every year. 



Q. But generally ? A. More than one-half of the time. Some years 

 I have been unable to obtain it; after looking a month for it, I have 

 not got it. 



Q. You have come in for it every year? A. I have come in nearly 

 every year I have been to the Eastern Banks. 



Q. For the last nine or ten years'? A. Yes; with one or two excep- 

 tions, perhaps. 



Q. When was the first time you went into the coast of Newfoundland 

 for fresh bait? A. I think the first time I went to Newfoundland for 

 bait was eight years ago. 



Q. To what part did you go? A. Into Fortune Bay. 



Q. You went from Gloucester to Fortune Bay, and from thence to the 

 Banks, I suppose? A. We took bait at Gloucester, and used it on the 

 Western Bank, and St. Peter's Bank, and then went to Fortune 'Bay, 

 and got bait, and went from there to the Grand Bank. 



Q. How long did it take you to go from St. Peter's Bank to Fortune 

 Bay, and thence to the Grand Banks? A. I have usually been one 

 week, and sometimes two weeks, from the time of leaving St. Peter's, 

 until we got bait, and reached the Grand Bank. 



Q. Have you ever been in any harbor of Newfoundland between Cape 

 Race and Conception Bay for bait ? A. No. 



Q. Did you ever use caplin for bait? A. I tried it, and gave it up. 



Q. You have said you had some conversation with captaius of vessels 

 in reference to the use of fresh bait ! A. Yes. 



Q. When had you those conversations? A. At various times for the 

 last eight or ten years. 



Q. And they have at all these times expressed their strong disappro- 

 bation of going into ports for fresh bait? A. They have very strong 

 objections in regard to trouble with their crews, the time spent in ob- 

 taining bait, and sometimes the price of ice in which to preserve the 

 bait. 



Q. During eight or ten years these views have been expressel by 

 you ? A. 1 have heard it spoken of in that way. 



Q. Every year? A. Perhaps not every year, but frequently. 



Q. Generally ? A. Yes. 



( v >. Can you name any of the captains with whom j*ou had the con 

 versatipns? A. I think I can name one or two. 



Q. Name them A. The last one who talked with me about it was 

 William Williams, of Gloucester. 



Q. Can you name any others? A. I don't think I can without think- 

 ing some time. 



Q. During the last three or four years, I believe, the great majority 

 of the Bank fishing- vessels have come in for fresh bait, either into the 



