2636 AWAKD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Jane to November, not including November? A. The greatest loss of 

 fishing vessels in the gulf was in August. 



Q. The depreciation on a vessel engaged in fishing in the gulf during 

 those months is as great or greater than that of a vessel engaged in 

 ordinary trade? A. I think so. 



Q. Can you give me your reason? A. The reason is that the vessel 

 is engaged in the fishing business and is on a dangerous route. 



Q. You think the gulf is dangerous? A. 1 do. 



Q. What has the danger of the gulf to do with the wear and tear of 

 vessels? A. The wear and tear of a vessel comprises injuries she may 

 receive in a gale or by being stranded. 



Q. The stranding would perhaps come in another valuation. The in- 

 surers would most likely have to pay for that ? A. Perhaps so and 

 perhaps not. 



Q. Don't you think they would? A. According to what the loss 

 would be. The insurance is 4 per cent, for four mouths. Why should 

 the rate of insurance be so high if there was no danger of wear and tear 

 to the vessel ? 



Q. 1 don't know. Do they insure the vessels for the season or for 

 trips ? A. For the trips. That is what they charge i per cent, in the 

 gulf, one per cent, per month. 



Q. What is the insurance of a vessel going to George's Bank ? A. I 

 don't know. 



Q. You were posted yourself in regard to it ? A. I never posted my- 

 self on that point. 



Q. Take vessels fishing off your own coast. With regard to wear and 

 tear, don't you think the wear and tear of vessels fishing off your own 

 coast would be more than that of vessels fishing in the gulf during the 

 months they fish there ? A. I do not. 



Q. Not in the winter season ? A. We fish on our shores all the year 

 round. 



Q. Is not the wear and tear greater on your coast than in the gulf 

 during the summer months when they fish there ? A. I should say it 

 was. 



Q. You spoke of the profits made out of fish, after they had been 

 landed, by the fish merchants. Will you explain what the profits are ? 

 A. On mackerel all the profits are in the packing. 



Q. And how much per barrel profit is there on that ? A. From thirty 

 cents to fifty cents. 



Q. A little higher than that, is it not ? A. No ; I don't think it is. 



Q. Have you ever packed yourself? A. Yes. 



Q. Much ? A. I packed during three years. 



Q. So you are able to tell about packing. A. Packing was then done 

 at $1.15 per barrel. Now it is $1.75. 



Q. Did it pay at $1.15 ? A. Yes ; barrels then were very much lower. 



Q. But it left a profit then ? A. Yes. 



Q. Have barrels risen in proportion to the rise in the charge for pack- 

 ing ? A. Yes. 



Q. The same proportion ? A. About the same proportion, I think. 



Q. Then, do I understand that the increased cost of packing is solely 

 due to the increased cost of barrels ? Is there not a larger profit made 

 on packing ? A. I don't know but what they may make a larger profit. 

 Prices went up during the war, and they remained so till, I think, last 

 year, when they dropped. 



Q. In what other ways have the merchants got profits upon pro- 

 visions furnished to the families of fishermen ? A. To the vessels. 



