2596 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. "Will you produce these books ? A. I have the trip-book, which I 

 have numbered one, for the years since 1858 and 185!). Their previous 

 books were burned in the great fire at Gloucester in 1864. I have the 

 trip-books for the years extending from 1858 to 1876, inclusive, 19 years. 



Q. What is the meaning of the term "trip- book"? A. This is a book 

 with which the voyage is made up and settled with the crew, showing the 

 parts which belong respectively to the vessel and the crew. The voy- 

 ages of all the schooners from 1858, as long as they were running, are 

 drawn out. I have prepared an abstract from these books ; also a sum- 

 mary of that abstract and an explanation of this summary. This is a 

 summary of all the voyages made by the fish ing- vessels of George 

 Steele from 1858 to 1877 ; it shows the time employed in the cod and 

 halibut fishery, and those engaged in the mackerel fishery off the Amer- 

 ican coast and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, giving the amount and value 

 of their catches, &c. (For summary of the voyages see Appendix to 

 Evidence.) 



Q. All this you were able to take from these books which the firm 

 kept for their own convenience f A. Yes. 



Q. What is that ? A. As you all well know, in Gloucester, our fish- 

 ing-fleet meets with a great many disasters, and a great deal of money 

 has to be given in charity to widows and orphans of fishermen ; and so 

 for a few years back it has been the practice among vessel-owners to 

 deduct, with the consent of the crews, of course, from the gross earnings 

 of their vessels, one quarter of one percent, to be given to the widows' 

 and orphans' fund. 



Q. The owners contribute half and the men half? A. Yes; and this 

 is put in as a stock charge. 



Q. Is it not the case that the number of widows and orphans occa- 

 sioned by disasters in the fishing business has been large? A. O, yes. 

 The statement continues : 



The amount of the "stock expenses" is fonnd on above summary by doubling the 

 vessel's share, which adds the crew's share, and taking that amount from the "gross 

 stock," this leaves the amount of the " stock expenses." 



By dividing the " value of the catch " by the " barrels caught" (packed), this gives 

 the average value of the mackerel, exclusive of packing. 



The number of " vessels employed " in each class of fishery, shows the number en- 

 gaged in that particular fishery some part of the year, and the " number fitted" gives 

 the total number of vessels owned and fitted each year. 



It will be found by the " summary of voyages," that from 1858 to 1865, inclusive, the 

 average catch of his vessels in the Gulf of St. Lawrence was 338 packed barrels oi 

 mackerel, which sold, exclusive of the packing and barrels, for $11.10 per barrel oi 

 200 pounds. From 1865 to 1872, inclusive, the average catch was 280 packed barrels, 

 sold for $14.40, average price per barrel. From 1872 to 1876, inclusive, the average 

 catfh was 223 barrels, sold at an average price of 10.01 per barrel, exclusive of barrel 

 and packing. 



Tiie average time of each vessel employed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence mackerel 

 fishery was 4 months 13 days by 6.3 vessels, yearly for 17 years. The average catch 

 was 304 packed barrels, the average price sold for, $12 per barrel. The vessels' share for 

 the 17 years, $372.66 per month each ; the average share to the crews, $24.84 per month 

 ach. 



The average time employed in the cod and halibut fisheries was 6 months 18 days 

 each year, for 19 years, by 8.21 vessels. Average vessel's share per month, $352,21. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. I thought that in your previous statement of month by month, it 

 was $300 and something? A. Yes ; it was $372.66 in the gulf. 



Q. And what was it in the cod fishing ? A. $352.21. Mr. Steele's ves- 

 sels have been unusually successful in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



