AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2811 



order that the mackerel sball not discover it so quickly and escape ? A. 

 I could not say ; that is a fisherman's theory, which 1 know nothing 

 about. 



Q. \Vith regard to the preparation of mackerel, what have you to 

 say? A. Nothing, except that they are used in increasing numbers 

 fresh. The principal consumption in Europe is in fresh fish. The peo- 

 ple there do not salt fish, or scarcely at all. They are put up in Europe, 

 and I believe, to some extent, in Canada in cans; I do not think that is 

 done in the United States. 



Q. Of course, you have obtained information as to the manner in 

 which the fish can be used by consumers; you have nothing to do 

 \\ithHhe mercantile side of the question ? A. No. 



Q. You have had it presented to you. Do you find that the demand 

 for fresh fish of all kinds is increasing? A. I know the tendency at the 

 present day is to substitute fresh fish for salt, in view of the improved 

 methods of preparation and preservation, and the improved means of 

 communication, railroads and steamboats coming to the shores and car- 

 rying away the fish and distributing it over an extent of thousands of 

 miles and more in the interior, it bringing a much better price as fresh 

 fish, and yielding a much better profit to the seller. 



Q. Is that trade rapidly increasing? A. It is increasing with enor- 

 mous rapidity. Every year witnesses a great extension of the methods 

 and increased improvements in the mode of preparation and the size of 

 the refrigerators and their number. 



Q. In regard to herring, what have you to say ? A. Herring is a fish 

 of wide range. Though I cannot say it goes further north than cod 

 perhaps it does not it goes scarcely as far south on the American 

 coast. I have not found any evidence of it being taken south of Block 

 Island. It is very abundant off Block Island and Narragansett Bay in 

 winter, but whether it is found further south I am unable to say ; it is 

 found as far north as Labrador, and much further. 



Q. It is found from Block Island to the shores of Labrador in great 

 abundance? A. Yes. 



Q. It is pretty fairly distributed all along ? A. Yes ; in some locali- 

 ties they are found in greater abundance at some periods of the year; 

 but there is no part of the American coast, from Labrador to Block 

 Island, where they are not found during a certain number of months. 



Q. What are the movements of this fish ? A. They present migra- 

 tions not so extensive and demonstrative as that of mackerel, but more 

 so than those of cod. They probably move from their ground from time 

 to time in search of food, and generally have definite places for spawn- 

 ing, to which they resort at different seasons of the year at each par- 

 ticular coast. While the spawn is deposited, as a general rule, in cer- 

 tain localities, it is sometimes a matter of uncertainty. The destruction 

 of herring has been less in America than in Europe, where it has been 

 very marked. There are extensive regions where formerly the herring 

 business was carried on, from which they have entirely disappeared, so 

 much, so that they import herring from Scotland and America. 



Q. As to the egg of the herring? A. The egg is larger than that of 

 the cod, and is about one-twentieth of an inch in diameter. ' 



Q. What is the number to each fish ? A. About 30,000. 



Q. Do you think they have any particular spawning-ground ? A. 

 They have definite localities that are preferred by them. They spawn 

 round the Magdalen Islands in great abundance, and in the bays of 

 Newfoundland. The most extensive spawning-ground on the southern 

 coast is round the southern end of Grand Manau, which is oue of the 



