AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2767 



by sailmaking, though this was not the case with the whole of it. I 

 made some by doing other business attached to my sailmaking business. 



Q. You put in a capital of about $14,000 or $15,000? A. Yes. 



Q. Did you lose it all ? A. No, not the whole of it, but very nearly 



all. 



Q. To what was the loss due; the shore fishery, cod-fishing, or the bay 

 fishery ? A. Well, it was due to the bay fishery. We sent our vessels 

 to the bay expecting to get something out of it, and we did not succeed. 



Q. Have you your books ? A. No ; what books I had were burned 

 up last year when I was burned out. 



Q. During the time you were so engaged, how was your Bank fishing 

 fair? A. Yes; it was fair. 



Q. How did your shore fishing turn out? A. That was very good. 



Q. Have you done anything in the fishing business since 1809 ? A. 

 No. 



Q. You then went back to your other business again ? A. Yes. 



Q. How often does a fishing schooner need a new suit of sails on the 

 average, if she is well handled and well managed ? A. By good care a 

 good suit of sails will last two years. 



Q. And this requires good care ? A. Yes ; I have known some cases 

 where a new suit of sails was worn out in one year. 



Q. Does a suit of sails last a fishing vessel as long as a merchant- 

 man? A. No. 



Q. A merchantman sails from one port to another, and furls her sails 

 when she lies in port? A. Yes; and they are generally unbent when 

 the vessel goes into port. 



Q. While fishing vessels are at it all the time ? A. Yes. 



Q. What did a new suit of sails cost during the war; not a fancy 

 suit, but a foresail, a mainsail, and a couple of jibs ? A. For a vessel 

 of 90 or 100 tons a suit of sails of that kind then cost aJbout $2,100 or 

 $2,200. 



Q. How is it now ? A. The same suit would now cost between $500 

 and $600. . 



Q. While you were pursuing the business, how much have you paid 

 oat for suits of sails on the average ? A. I guess they cost us, while I 

 was in the business, about $800 a suit on the average. 



Q. What will rigging running and standing rigging both, with 

 blocks delivered at the wharf, cost? A. From $1,000 to $1,200. 



Q. I suppose that some parts of the rigging wear out more rapidly 

 than others ? A. Yes. 



Q. Is the same material used in sails for fishing- vessels as for vessels 

 in the merchant service ? A. They are made with the same materials, 

 but sometimes they are not made out of the same materials. They are 

 made out of hemp orJJussia canvas. 



Q. Eussia duck ? A. Yes. 



Q. And not canvas ? A. Not cotton canvas ; they are made out of 

 cotton and hemp canvas. 



Q. Is any better material to be had for sails for small vessels than 

 Eussia duck ? A. Yes ; cotton is preferable. 



Q. Does it cost more ? A. It did not cost much more during the war. 



Q. Cotton did not? A. No; but cotton cost the most during the 

 war. 



Q. Your sails have been made since the war, and for many years past, 

 out of Eussia duck ? A. No. 



Q. Out of what, then ? A. Cotton. 



