2782 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



coast there is a great deal of fog, but when we reach North Bay, we get 

 clear of it. 



Q. You say that in the gulf your fishing was done on the Banks and 

 toward the Magdalen Islands ? A. Yes ; we caught the heft of our 

 mackerel invariably around the Magdalen Islands. 



Q. As a fishing ground,- taking it all in all, are the Magdalen Islands 

 much worse than Prince Edward Island ! A. They are better than 

 Prince Edward Island. 



Q. You did not fish much about Prince Edward Island ? A. I never 

 did a great deal. I tried around there, but I never caught many fish 

 there. . 



Q. You are sure that you never took a license, out ? A. Yes ; I am 

 sure that I never took a license out. I never paid a red cent for a 

 license. 



By Mr. Thomson : 



Q. You never took out a license f A. No. 



Q. Where were you in 1866 ? A. At home. 



Q. Do you know of a vessel belonging to Gloucester called the Scot- 

 land? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you own her ? A. Yes. 



Q. Was she in the bay in 1866 ? A. I do not recollect whether she 

 was or not. 



Q. How happens it, since you have given most extraordinary evi- 

 dence of having a good memory, recollecting not only what you did 30 

 years ago, but the very days of the mouth when events occurred, that 

 you do not remember where the Scotland was in 1866, and what she 

 was then doing ? A. I think that Captain Bartlett went in her that 

 year to the Banks, fresh halibuting down at St. Peter's Bank. 



Q. And she did not go to the bay at all that year ? A. I think not. 



Q. Can you swear positively that she did not ? A. No ; I cannot ; 

 but to the best of my recollection she did not go to the bay that year. 



Q. Did any of your vessels, when you were not in them, take out 

 licenses ? A. Not that I know of. 



Q. Can you swear that the Scotland did not take out a license in 

 1866, and did not fish in the Bay in 1866 ? A. Well, she might have 

 then been in the bay ; I was not in her. I never paid for a license to 

 my knowledge in my life. 



Q. I presume that the captain would not pay for a license out of his . 

 own pocket ? A. Well, I cannot recollect paying for one. I know tha.t 

 I did not do so when I was in her myself. 



Q. How happens it, if your memory is so good, that you cannot 

 remember this ? You surprised me by stating as far back as 30 years 

 ago, not only what you did during a particular year, but also what you 

 did on the 18th and 19th of October ? A. The 18th and 19th of Octo- 

 ber? 



Q. I think so. A. Xo ; but I recollect catching mackerel in the 

 Mount Vernon, on the llth, 12th and 13th of October, when we took 200 

 barrels. I recollect that as well as if it had only happened yesterday. 

 My memory serves me better concerning events which happened some 

 40 years ago, than for those that have occurred somewhat recently. 



Q. That was in 1837 ? A. Yes. t 



Q. Forty years ago ? A. Yes. 



Q. You not only recollect what you then did, but also the very days' 

 of the month in this regard ? A. That is true. I do so recollect it. 



Q. I do not mean to say that your memory is not quite accurate ; 

 but it surprises me to find that with such an exceedingly retentive 



