2710 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Thomsoii has submitted the opinion of Mr. McLaughlin as opposed to 

 this view ; and I want to read the opinion of an overseer, Mr. Cunning- 

 ham, of the Inner Bay, and see whether it agrees with yours. It is as 

 follows : 



The winter herring fishery, I am sorry to say, shows a decrease from the yield of 

 last year. This, I believe, is owing to the large quantities of nets in fact miles of 

 them being set by United States tishermen all the way from Grand Manan to Le- 

 preaux, and far out in the bay by the Wolves, sunk from 20 to 25 fathoms, which kept 

 the fish from coming into the bay. 



As they are fishing far off shore, a week at a time, this destructive practice can be 

 followed with impunity and without fear of detection. 



A. That is correct; that is what the fishermen are complaining of. 



Q. With regard to what is called the Gloucester herring fleet, to 

 which reference has been made here once or twice are you aware or 

 not whether this fleet takes out licenses to touch and trade when they 

 come to buy herring at Newfoundland, or at Grand Manan, in New 

 Brunswick ? A. I do not know anything about that matter. 



No. 60. 



WILLIAM DAVIS, master mariner and fisherman, of Gloucester, Mass., 

 was called on behalf of the Government of the United States, sworn 

 and examined. 



By Mr. Foster: 



Question. You are seventy-one years of age? Answer. Yes. 



Q. When did you first go fishing for mackerel in the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence? A. In 1838. 



Q. And when were you last there? A. In 1876. 



Q. How many years were you there fishing in the interval ? A. I 

 could not tell exactly ; but I was there for a good many years. 



Q. You have a list of them? A. Yes. 



Q. In what schooner were you there last year ? A. The B. D. Has- 

 kins. 



Q. How long were you there in her! A. About three mouths. 



Q. How many barrels of mackerel did you then catch? A. One 

 hundred. 



Q. What was your share in money? A. Twenty-six dollars. 



Q. For three mouths' work? A. Yes. 



Q. You were also there in 1872 ? A. Yes. 



Q. And you were there during a good many years between 1855 and 

 1867? A. Yes. 



Q. Will you state to the Commission where you used to fish during 

 those years, and where you caught your fish ? I want you particularly 

 to mention the places within the three miles of the shore where you used 

 to fish or try to fish ? A. I cannot name a great many places within 

 three miles of the shore. 



Q. Where did you use to go to fish in the bay ? A. The first year I 

 was^here we caught what we did get, and that was not a great many, 

 on Banks Bradley and Orphan. 



Q. What were your principal fishing-grounds ? A. These were Banks 

 Bradley and Orphan, and the Magdalen Islands. 



Q. Where did you ever fish inshore in the bay within the three-mile i 

 limit? A. I so fished some little at Murgaree, although I never was' 

 fortunate enough to catch any mackerel there save very few. 



Q. How near the main-land and how near the island did you fish at 





