AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2749 



catch them at the Magdalen Islands, this might not affect their sale ; 

 but if the} 7 then came into competition with what the American vessels 

 caught, these fish could not be sent there. 



Q. Would this amount be a prohibition duty, in this respect ? A. I 

 should think so. 



Q. How was the removal of the duties on mackerel and other fish, 

 through the Washington Treaty, regarded by the inhabitants of Prince 

 Kihvard Island! A. As far as ray observation went, they were very 

 filler to have this treaty, in this regard, go into effect ; they thought 

 that this would build up their business, and be of great benefit to them. 



Q. What effect, in your judgment, would a return of these duties 

 have ! A. It would have a very bad effect unquestionably. It would 

 hurt the fisheries there, because a great many of the fishermen, and the 

 best fishermen we have now, would then at once go on board of Ameri- 

 can vessels, as they formerly did. A large number of the island fisher- 

 men formerly fished in American vessels ; and a great many of them 

 would under such circumstances go back, while they are now carrying 

 on the boat fishery. 



Q. In your boat-fishing you use herring more than pogies, because 

 the former are cheaper than the latter ? A. Yes. 



Q. Can vessel mackerel-fishing be successfully prosecuted without 

 pogie bait ? A. I do not know but that it might ; but they never use 

 anything save pogies. As far as I have learned it is very rare when 

 they do otherwise. I have in one or two instances heard skippers say 

 that if they used herring, and a great deal more of them, perhaps they 

 could get just as good trips as with pogies ; but one might say that and 

 a hundred might say the opposite. 



Q. Have you the prices of mackerel with you ? A. I have them for 

 a few years perhaps for the past five or six years. 



Q. What are they ? A. These are the net sales of mackerel in Boston 

 market. 



Q. Are they the actual result of your business derived from your 

 books ? A. iSo ; I cannot exactly say that. This is merely an esti- 

 mate. 



Q. Mention the prices. A. In 1876, last year, the average net value 

 of mackerel at the island was about $9, as the result of sales in Boston. 



Q. That is what you realized I A. This is about what we realized for 

 the catch. 



Q. Give the other prices. A. In 1875 we make it about 811 j in 1874, 

 about $7.25; and in 1873, about $11.50. 



By Hon. Mr. Kellogg: 



Q. Are these the average prices for all grades ! A. Yes. 

 By Mr. Foster : 



Q. Continue the list. A. In 1872 such price was about $8, and in 

 1871 it was about $4.10. 



Q. What do you mean by net price f A. This is the result after the 

 bait, freight, duties, commissions, wharfage, and other expenses are 

 settled. 



Q. The barrels and salt excepted ? A. We do not take that. When 

 we ship a barrel of mackerel it is all barreled up and ready for market. 



Q. The mackerel catch of Prince Edward Island for last year, 1876, is 

 estimated in the report of the Dominion commissioner of fisheries at 

 25,383 barrels, and the export of mackerel for the same year is estimated 

 at 9,347 barrels. Then, of course, 16,000 barrels must have been con- 

 sumed at the island, if these figures are correct ; and I want to know 



