2754 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



large catch of mackerel is taken south before we have them in the bay 

 at all. 



Q. I suppose that the season during which there is mackerel-fishing 

 both in the gulf and on the United States shore extends from the last 

 of June until the middle of October ? A. They commence fishing in the 

 bay about the 20th of June, I should say. 



Q. When it extends from the 20th of June to the middle of October, 

 how does the quality of the catch in the gulf compare with the quality 

 of the catch off the United States coast for the same months from year 

 to year ? A. Well, during the last five or six years, I think the best 

 quality has been taken, I think, on the American shore, but I have 

 known it to be right the reverse, and the very best mackerel to be taken 

 in the bay. 



Q. Where do the best mackerel in the bay come from ? A. Well, I 

 do not think that the mackerel taken at the different places vary much 

 in quality; sometimes the best mackerel are taken at the Magdalen 

 Islands, and sometimes they are got around the island ; and sometimes 

 away up about Gaspe the very best mackerel are obtained; and some- 

 times this is the case farther north. 



Q. When you speak of round the island, do you mean within three 

 miles of land, or farther out ? A. O, well, I do not know that I had 

 either in view ; speaking as a general thing, the larger mackerel are 

 taken farther away from the shore. 



Q. The collector at Port Mulgrave, in one of his returns for 1875, 

 says that " the most of these mackerel" that is, the mackerel he speaks 

 of as having been caught by 164 American vessels " were caught about 

 Prince Edward Island, that is the smaller-sized mackerel ; but the best 

 and largest were caught at the Magdalen Islands " ? A. Well, I know that 

 one year, and perhaps more than one year, and during several years, I 

 have heard it said by fish-dealers at Boston and other places that they 

 got the better quality of mackerel from the Magdalen Islands. 



Q. I see that you are not going to run down Prince Edward Islam 

 mackerel ? A. No. 



By Mr. Dana : 



Q. I have understood that the mackerel as they grow fat in th 

 autumn leave the northeastern part of the gulf and go down through th 

 Gut of Canso, and around the other side, and pass along to the south 

 ward, and are to be found off Cape Cod and other parts of the American 

 coast for a short time in November and the latter part of October in the 

 very best condition ; is that so ? A. I have heard that stated, and 

 have known them to be taken around Cape Cod late in the season, am 

 even later than the middle of November; but after November, and after 

 the water begins to get cold there, they begin to get thin. 



Q. They then get thin again ? A. Yes. 



Q. And those that come down from here and get there by the middle 

 of October have been reported as being remarkably good, and up to the 

 1st of November the fish are remarkably good ; and then, for that class 

 of fish, the market is not over in the United States? A. Well, it is noi 

 then over every year. 



Q. In the middle of October? A. They get them there in nets, ro 

 so much with hooks. I don't think the mackerel take the hook. Man\ 

 are of the opinion that they are not the same kind of mackerel but f 

 different species. I have heard so. 



Q. Some think the mackerel have been fattened up in the bay am 

 come down, and others think it is not so. But at all events your mack 



