AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2745 



make a fair business at that; but as to catching mackerel exclusively 

 under such circumstances, it would not do to depend on it at all. 



o. How does Prince Edward Island mackerel compare in point of size 

 and quality with those which are caught at the Magdalen Islands? A. 

 \\Y11, in the reports I have heard of vessels fishing at the Magdalen 

 Islands and at the point where the mackerel are sold, they speak of the 

 Magdalen Island mackerel as being much better and larger; that is, for 

 t he greater number of years. 



Q. Of late years, where have the best No. 1 mackerel been taken 

 chiefly? A. These are taken on the American shore; they suit the 

 better class of customers and bring the highest price. 



Q. Is there an inspector of mackerel on the island? A. Yes. 



Q. Are you a deputy inspector ? A. Yes; my name is on the carrels 

 as deputy inspector and I pay my fees to the inspector general. 



Q. Who is he? A. His name is Frank Arsenault ; he lives in Prince 

 County. 



Q. What do you pay him ? A. I think it is somewhere about 2 cents 

 a barrel ; it is not a very heavy fee. 



Q. Mr. Davies says that you are mistaken about that? A. My books 

 show that we have paid it every year, whether it is a mistake or not. I 

 obtained permission some years ago to act as deputy inspector, and I 

 have paid my fees. 



Q. Every year since? A. Yes, every year since, I think. I think my 

 books will show that I have paid the fees every year, for five or six 

 years. 



Q. You have paid two cents a barrel? A. Yes, somewhere about 

 that ; between two and three cents. 



Q. Is there any sort of doubt about your brand as inspector of mack- 

 erel f A. No. 



Q. Describe exactly what you put on the barrels. A. The brand is 

 circular; the first words are, " Prince Edward Island," and the next, I 

 think, are, " Two Hundred Pounds J. H. Myrick, Deputy Inspector." 

 I think this covers the whole brand. 



Q. Then you are deputy inspector de facto, whether there is law for it 

 or not ? A. I do not know what the law is about it ; but I know that I 

 have paid my fees to the inspector-general. We have had a running 

 account with this man, and we have given him credit every year, on the 

 settlement, for his fees. I do not know that we are compelled to pay 

 such fees ; but I know that these have been paid ; that he Las had 

 credit for them- in his account every year, I think. He calls for the re- 

 turns and we give them to him. 



Q. Do you make returns of your mackerel ? A. Yes ; to the general 

 inspector, when he calls, and he generally calls in the winter time. 



Q. To this same gentleman ? A. Yes. 



Q. The fish go in that way to Boston ? A. Yes. 



Q. Now, in point of fact, are a good many of your mackerel reinspect- 

 ed and culled after they are sold in Boston ? A. Well, I do not know 

 about that, but this may be the case; that is a pretty difficult question 

 to answer. I hardly know whether this is the case or not, because I am 

 not there except in winter, and I do not know whether they go through 

 another inspection or not. This is not necessary, but it may be done. 

 A -dealer may buy 100 barrels of mackerel and then put them in half 

 barrels, and in that way have them inspected, but I do not think that 

 he culls them. 



Q. Some evidence has been given here as to imported mackerel being 

 thus gone over, culled, and reinspected, so as to make them more sal- 



