2750 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



how far this corresponds with your belief? A. Well, I think that the 

 figures for the exports are not accurate, because I believe that some 

 mackerel were exported for which the figures have not found their way 

 into the custom-house returns. 



Q. What do you think that such exports from Prince Edward Island 

 amounted to for 1876? A. 11,000 or 12,000 barrels ; I would not say 

 that they exceeded 12,000. 



Q. Are you confident about that ? A. I feel very confident about it, 

 but I cannot speak positively in this respect. 



Q. Explain what your opportunities for obtaining knowledge on that 

 subject are? A. Well, taking this matter oneway, I judge from the 

 number of boats which I have engaged in the mackerel fishery, and the 

 number of boats which it is estimated is so engaged around the island. 

 I take the average catch of the whole number of boats which it is esti- 

 mated to fish about the island, and from this calculation I estimate that 

 the exports of mackerel would not exceed 11,000 or 12,000 barrels. 



Q. I notice that, in his report, the aggregate product of all the fish- 

 eries of Prince Edward Island is valued at $494,967.08, and the total 

 fish exports are valued at $169,714, leaving for consumption on the 

 island, fish to the value of $225,253.08; what do you say to these fig- 

 ures for 1876 ? A. The consumption of fish on the island, besides mack- 

 erel, is pretty large; the island people consume a large quantity of her- 

 ring and a considerable quantity of codfish ; but I should think that 

 these figures are rather astray. 



Q. How much are they astray, according to your best judgment t 

 What do you say to the aggregate yield of the fisheries of Prince Ed- 

 ward Island for last year being valued at $494,967.08? A. From the 

 best figures which I have been able to make, I should not think that it 

 exceeded one-half of that amount. 



Q. What do you say to the fish exports being valued at $169,714? 

 A. Well, I do not know that this is far astray. 



Q. Now as to prices; codfish in this report is valued at $4.25 a hun- 

 dred-weight ? A. Well, that is not very far out of the way. Cod were 

 scarce and high last season, and that is about a fair figure. 



Q. The yield of the island herring fishery is estimated at 14,866 bar- 

 rels for last year ; you say that there is a large consumption of herring 

 on the island ? A. Yes ; but they do not use much poor herring. 



Q. These herring are valued at $2.50 a barrel ? A. I should think 

 that was a large estimate. 



Q. Mackerel are valued at $8 a barrel ? A. Well, that is not out of 

 the way ; the price is small enough. 



Q. The yield of hake is estimated at 14,862 hundred-weight, valued 

 at $2.50? A. That is about what the market price was on the island. 



Q. The island yield of cod-tongues and sounds for last year is esti- 

 mated at 594 barrels ; what do you say to that ! A. That is evidently 

 a mistake ; I do not think that there were any produced or shipped 

 there last year that is, any to speak of. 



Q. The yield of fish-oil is estimated at 16,487 gallons, valued at 65 

 cents a gallon? A. The price is about 15 cents too high. 



Q. It is entered that 2,590 gallons of fish-oil were exported, and 16,487 

 gallons produced ? A. That is too high a figure. 



Q. Do they use 14,000 gallons of fish-oil on the island ? A. I do not 

 think so; at any rate, so many gallons of oil as is there mentioned art- 

 not produced on the island, unless the figure is made up by importation 

 from other places. 



Q. The return of the number of fishermen on the island is given as 



