2644 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



for the barrels of fish and to whom they were sold ? A. It shows it 

 with the packing out. 



Q. Will you turn up one of the trips and explain your meaning? A. 

 Here is a trip made between August and October in the schooner 

 Marathon. 



Q. It is a settlement between Mr. Steele and his crew ? A. Yes; and 

 the settlement between Mr. Steele and his vessel for that trip. 



Q. Does it show to whom the mackerel were sold ? A. Xo. 



Q. Does it show the price per barrel for which they were sold ? A. 

 Yes; the packing out. The prices were $16, $12, and $6. 



Q. Are not these the prices at which he settled with his men ! A. 

 Certainly, and the prices at which he sold the fish. 



Q. Are you prepared to state that he never sold any of those fish for 

 any higher price than that which he allowed his men ? A. I would not 

 swear to that, ibecause I do not know. 



Q. You do not know whether this was the case or not ? A. I will 

 swear in this respect with regard to my own vessels. 



Q. Are you prepared to state that Mr. Steele did not realize a larger 

 price for the mackerel than that at which he settled with his crew ? A. 

 I do not actually know whether this was the case or not, but I do know 

 that it is the custom in Gloucester for the merchants to settle with their 

 crews at the exact prices for which they sell their fish. They do not 

 settle with the crews for less than they get. 



Q. Did not you tell me, major, that it was the invariable practice for 

 the merchants to settle with their crews when the vessels packed off, 

 and that on a rise taking place in the market the former got the benefit 

 of it ? A. O, that is a different thing. If the merchant buys the mack- 

 erel of the crew and keeps the fish on hand for a rise, and obtains it, 

 that is his profit. 



Q. So that the profit which Steele may have made with these 33,645 

 barrels of mackerel is a profit of which you absolutely know nothing ! 

 A. I know nothing about that. 



Q. So this statement does not pretend to be an exhibit of the actual 

 profit which Steele may have made in this relation ? A. Xo ; but I 

 know the custom of the city, and that is to sell the trip and to allow 

 the men the price then received. 



Q. I merely want to show that the course of business is such that an 

 experienced man can take advantage of a rise in the market and make 

 a handsome profit of it? A. That is true; and on the other hand lie 

 may lose. 



Q. At what rate per barrel do you credit these mackerel ? A. The 

 average price, as I stated in my explanation of the summary, is $li' 

 per barrel for the 17 years during which he had vessels in the Gulf of 

 Saint Lawrence. That is the price which he actually received for. his 

 mackerel. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. Does that cover all descriptions of mackerel ? A! Yes, all descrip- 

 tions that are packed from his vessel. 



Q. And the average was as high as $12 ? A. Yes. 



Q. That was the actual result ? A. Yes. 



Q. That is without packing, of course ? A. Yes. 

 By Mr. Foster : 



Q. Do you mean to say that Mr. Steele's mackerel during 17 years 

 averaged $12 a barrel, without packing-charges ? A. Yes; Mr. St< 

 was very successful in his trips. 



