AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2743 



we had in 1873 the August gale, which wrecked so many American 

 schooners about the island. 



Q. As you have been on the island every year for something like sev- 

 enteen years, you must have heard discussions as to the three-mile limit, 

 ami so on ? A. Yes; I have heard a good deal said about it. 



Q. Has your attention been drawn to estimate the distance from the 

 shore at which the three mile limit lies ! A. Yes; I think that my judg- 

 ment is pretty good on that subject. 



Q. During how many months are your vessels employed in fishing ? 

 A. Well, cod and mackerel are caught for about 4 months in the year, 

 on an average. 



Q. And how long are mackerel caught f A. For about 3 months. 



Q. What is a good catch of mackerel for one of your boats during the 

 season ? A. I consider 75 barrels a fair average; indeed, this is a very 

 good catch for the average. 



Q. For three men ? A. Yes. 



Q. And what would you regard as a good catch for a single day ? A. 

 \VelI, 1 shall say two barrels, from 2 to 2J barrels; and this is better 

 th;in the average. 



Q. Where do all your fish go ? A. To Boston and New York, but to 

 Boston more particularly. 



Q. What is the largest number of barrels of mackerel which ever went 

 from your port to Boston during one year? A. Something under 7,000, 

 perhaps G,800. 



Q. Was that from you personally or from your firm ? A. That was 

 from me personally ; that was the catch for one year ; but I do not think 

 that it all went down the same season. 



Q. But it all went down earlier or later ? A. Yes. 



Q. Has the boat-fishing been increasing since you began to go to the 

 island ? A. Yes ; it has increased very materially. 



Q. And how has this been for the last few years, say since July, 1873 ? 

 A. It has been increasing a good deal since then. 



Q. What kind of a year was last year for mackerel ? A. The catch 

 was very small and light. 



Q. For boats and vessels ? A. Yes ; for both. 



Q. Did any vessels that came to fish in the gulf last year make any 

 money at all ? A. I made inquiries in the States, and the result of what 

 I could gather was that there was not a vessel which visited the bay 

 last year that made any money. 



Q. Do you know how the vessel-fishing has been in the bay during 

 the present season ? A. Well, I do somewhat ; as I stated before, a few 

 vessels have been around the part of the island where I am located. I 

 have seen some vessels there, but the number has been small. 



Q. As far as you know, what has been the result of the vessel-fishing 

 in the bay this "season ? A. Well, I should think it has been light 

 quite a small catch. 



Q. How has it been with the boats ? A. They have made a very fair 

 catch this season ; this has been above the average considerably, I 

 should think. 



Q. During the Reciprocity Treaty, that is, prior to 1866, were many 

 provincial vessels fishing for mackerel ? A. Well, about Prince Edward 

 Island, there was then quite a fleet of vessels. 



Q. After the Reciprocity Treaty was abrogated, what became of 

 them ? A. Well, they gradually abandoned that business, so that at 

 the present time they have very few vessels of any considerable size fitted 



