AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2757 



Q. Now that your attention has been called to it, do you say so ? A. 

 I should say we catch more fish inside than we did five, six, or eight 

 years ago. 



Q. You don't know how far off shore the fish are taken at other parts 

 of the island ? A. I only judge from what I have heard. 



Q. It is necessary in order to insure a fair catch to go inside with 

 boats ? A. Yes ; I suppose so. 



Q. You would not like to carry on fishing and be excluded from com- 

 ing within the three-mile limit ? A. I should not. 



Q. You would abandon it at once ? A. Yes, I think so ; that is, boat- 

 fishing particularly. 



Q. Has the Lettie been out fishing this year ? A. Yes. 



Q. How many barrels has she taken ? A. At last accounts about 300 

 barrels altogether. She landed 175 packed barrels on the first trip, and 

 she was reported three weeks ago with 100 barrels. So I should say 

 altogether about 300 barrels. That is rather considerably above the 

 average. 



Q. Would you prosecute the fishing in the bay if you were prohibited 

 from coming within three miles of the shore to fish ? A. I don't think 

 I would. 



Q. Have you any doubt about it ? A. I don't think I would. That is 

 if 1 was compelled to come here. I might go to the Magdalen Islands 

 if I had a right there. 



Q. Suppose you could go to Magdalen Islands, and were excluded 

 from three miles of the shore everywhere else in the bay ? A. I don't 

 know, but I might try it, if forced to prosecute the fishery in the bay. It 

 does not take long to change berths. 



Q. Suppose you were excluded from changing your berth and were 

 kept off shore ? A. I would not want to carry it on. If I had vessels 

 fishing on the American shore and found slim fishing there, it would not 

 take long for them to come down to Magdalen Islands, try there, and go 

 back again. Perhaps two weeks. 



Q. Would you, under those circumstances, prosecute the bay fishery 

 as a bay fishery, sending vessels there year after year to remain the sea- 

 son, and depending on it for the season's work? A. I don't think I 

 would. 



Q. Have you seen any large fleets of American vessels at your end of 

 the island ? A. I have. 



Q. What is the largest number you have seen ? A. I could not un- 

 dertake to speak with accuracy, but I should say from 150 to 200 sail. 



Q. At one time? A. I think I have seen 150 vessels at one time. 



Q. Did they fish by coming in and drifting off ? A. That is the prac- 

 tice. Of course wherever they find the fish they go, but if they found 

 them near the land they would not undertake to fish in that way with 

 an inshore wind. If there is a moderate wind off shore they come in, 

 throw bait, and drift off, and work back again. 



Q. You have seen them fishing in and out of the limits? A. Yes. 



Q. Often ? A. Yes. There have not been many vessels there for the 

 last two or three years, but previous to that I used to see them quite 

 frequently. 



Q. In fleets ? A. Yes, 30 or 40 sail. 



Q. Day after day during the season? A. I never saw them remain 

 there a great while perhaps one or two days. I don't remember them 

 remaining over two days in succession. 



Q. Then they would'return again? A. Then they would go, perhaps 



