2776 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. Are there not many more vessels lost at Magdalen Islands than at 

 Prince Edward Island ? A. I think not. 



Q. That is your idea? A. Of late years there may have been. In 

 former years more were lost at Prince Edward Island. 



Q. Do you mean to say that, excepting the year of the great Ameri- 

 can gale ? A. I take that in. 



Q. At what time of the year did that occur ? A. I do not know 

 whether in September or October. In October, I think. 



Q. That is the season when few or no vessels are at Magdalen 

 Islands! A. Yes. 



Q. They would leave Magdalen Islands and go fishing at Prince Ed- 

 ward Island? A. I don't know. 



Q. Don't they fish around Prince Edward much later in the season 

 than around Magdalen Islands? A. Xot at the bend of the island. 

 Around East Point they do. 



Q. Were not a number of the vessels lost at East Point ? A. Some 

 were lost there, I think. 



Q. Then you swear that you believe Magdalen Islands to be a safer 

 place than Prince Edward Island ? A. I would rather fish there. There 

 are more chances for a vessel to get out. 



Q. Why ? A. There is a chance to go around the islands. 



Q. Is there not a chance to go around Prince Edward Island at the 

 northeast or north end ? A. If you are near either end there is the 

 same; if you are not neaivoue of the ends you have not much chance 

 in a storm. 



Q. Cannot you go into the harbors ? A. Suppose a vessel draws 12 

 or 14 feet, she cannot go over the bars. 



Q. If the bar has less depth of water, of course she cannot. Do you 

 say the harbors have less than that ? A. They had at that time ; I don't 

 know what they are now. 



Q. In answer to Mr. Dana, you stated that you believe the inshore 

 fishery is of no practical value to the United States ? A. I should not 

 consider it so. 



Q. And did you so consider it in 1851, 1852, and 1853? A. Yes. 



Q. Was that the general opinion? A. I think that is the general 

 opinion of everybody. 



Q. Amongst fishermen in 1851, 1852, and 1853, and ever since ? A. 

 Yes ; I think so. 



Q. Did you ever hear any one among fishermen say to the contrary ? 

 A. I don't know I ever heard anybody. 



Q. How do you account for their making such endeavors to get the 

 right to fish inshore ? A. I did not know they made any endeavors. 



Q. In your judgment they are good for nothing ? A. I would not 

 give one cent for the whole of them. 



Q. And you think that is the opinion of all the fishermen ? A. I 

 could not say what their opinion is. It is so, as far as I know. 



Q. And as far as you know is it the opinion of fish merchants? A. 

 I could not say. 



Q. You were in that business yourself ? A. I am not in business 

 now. 



Q. You have stated that in your opinion the inshore fisheries are not 

 worth one cent, and that as far as you know that is the opinion of the 

 fishermen? A. Yes. ( 



Q. Is that the opinion of the fish merchants as well ? A. I think so. 



Q. I suppose that is the opinion in Gloucester, Boston, and all along 

 the coast of Massachusetts? A. I think so. 



