2792 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. How did the idea about these scales become current among fisher- 

 men ? A. I suppose it was due to their talking the matter over. When 

 mackerel do not bite very well they will ask whether the scales are off 

 their eyes or not, and say that when the scales are off they will have a 

 fair catch ; and they are always very anxious to examine the fish to see 

 whether the scales are off. 



Q. Could they see whether this was the case or not? A. I do not 

 know that they could. 



Q. How do you suppose that the idea started ? A. I could not tell 

 you. 



Q. This idea is general, at any rate ? A. It was talked about among 

 the fisheimen. 



Q. And generally believed among fishermen ? A. I cannot say ; but 

 I do not believe in it, for one. 



Q. But you are not all the fishermen ? A. Of course not; but I do 

 not believe in it. I cannot speak in this regard for others. I know, how- 

 ever, that it was the general talk among fishermen, and I have seen a 

 great many examine the fish to see whether the scales were off ; they 

 wait for this patiently, hoping to get a good deck of mackerel when the 

 scales come off. 



Q. How many barrels of flour would you put on board of the fishing 

 vessel with 16 men, leaving Gloucester? A. Eleven or twelve. 



Q. What kind of flour would this be ? A. It would generally be the 

 best. 



Q. What would it cost? A. From $9 to $10 a barrel. 



Q. That was during the war? A. And before the war. 



Q. You do not mean to say that this was the case before the war ! 

 A. It was sometimes $8 a barrel. The price varied. 



Q. Do you not know that the price was nearer $5 than 8 ? A. The 

 price might have been $5 here, but this was not the case up with us. 

 The price has never been 85 a barrel since I have been ip the States. 



Q. Or 86 or 87 ? A. I have paid $7, $8, and 89 a barrel for it, and 

 so on ; we do not buy poor trash, but the best flour. The best flour makes 

 the best bread, and is the cheapest in the end. 



Q. How much does coal cost? A. We did not use to take coal with 

 us at all ; but of late years it has been taken. 



Q. What kind of coal is generally taken ? A. Hard coal. 



Q. What do you pay for it ? A. The price varies from $7 to $8 a ton. 



Q. That must surely have been the price in American currency, when 

 greenbacks were at a considerable discount? A. Yes. 



Q. Because the hard coal used in these provinces comes from the 

 States? A. Certainly; we burn it mostly. I never took it with me but 

 one or two years, and that was when I was in the Scotland. 



Q. If we can get such coal here at 85 a ton, how is it that the prices 

 of it in the States is $6 or $7? A. It comes to us from Philadelphia in 

 freighters, and we pay $5, 86, and 87 a ton for it. 



Q. Can it be possible that you pay more for this coal in your own 

 country than we do here ? A. Yes ; this coal is worth $6 a ton to-day 

 in the United States. I have paid 86 and 6.50, and 86.25 is the price 

 on which I have agreed for this winter's supply. 



Q. How many tons of coal would you take on a vessel ? A. Ko more ' 

 than five, at any rate. 



Q. Where have you obtained your wood ? A. Generally at Canso J 

 we always made a point of doing so. 



Q. Because it is cheap at Canso ? A. Yes. 



