AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2833 



they are cured, and the extent to which it is practiced as a local fishery 

 by the people of North Carolina and other Southern States. 



Q. Has not that fishery been known for a great many years? A. I 

 cauuot say. I have only known it since 1872 and 1873. It probably 

 has been known as a fishery for some years. 



Q. Persons have eaten these mullet 20 or 30 years ago down South ? 

 A. Yes. 



Q. And it has not progressed at all as food for Northern consump- 

 tion! A. It is not now used as a food-fish in the North ; but it is a fish 

 which occupies the place of Northern fish through a large portion of the 

 Southern States. 



Q. Do you know from definite personal knowledge of your own 

 whether they would not rather have there one single salt mackerel than 

 a whole barrel of mullet? A. No, I cannot say anything about that 

 as to their preference. 



Q. I was told that this was the case no longer ago than this morning 

 by a lady who has lived there ; and I wanted to know what your experience 

 in this respect was. A. I must to my shame confess that I have never 

 tasted a salt mullet ; but I propose, as soon as I go home, to get a barrel 

 of them and I will send some to Halifax for the Commission. I hope 

 they will make up their minds to try them ; I will do it the very first 

 thing after I reach home, and I hope you will all try them. 



Q. Is it not a fact well known to those who are engaged in the sea- 

 fisheries that Southern fish, or, in other words, fish taken in warm waters, 

 are fish that will not bear transportation to Northern climates ? A. I 

 cannot say anything about that at all ; but I know the only peculiarity 

 about mullet is, that it is a fall and winter fishery. It is a cold-water 

 fishery. It begins in September, and lasts until November and Decem- 

 ber. 



Q. You say it is a cold-water fishery ; but the water is nothing like 

 as cold there as it is in our waters during the same months ? A. No ; 

 but the water there is about as cold in winter if not then quite as 

 cold as it is here in the summer time. 



Q. Could cod, from your knowledge, live in the waters which are fre- 

 quented by the mullet I A. No; neither could the mullet live in the 

 waters which are frequented by the cod. 



Q. Are not the mullet also a fat fish 1 A. Yes; they are very fat. 



Q. Is not this fact also against transportation ? A. I do not know. 

 I am not versed in the physics of transportation. 



Q. How long ago is it since you first turned your attention to the 

 fisheries at all ? A. I have done so since 1871. 



Q. Previous to that time your specialties lay in another direction ? 

 A. No ; I have always been interested in fish as a branch of zoology 

 for a great many yaars. I have been a specialist in icthyology, and I 

 described prior to that date hundreds of new species. 



Q. Speaking about the pounds established along the New England 

 shore, how many of them did you say were there ? A. 94. 



Q. In answer to Mr. Dana, you stated that this kind of fishing was 

 open under the Washington Treaty to British fishermen ; do you think 

 that you are quite right in stating that! A. Yes. 



Q. Do you think that under this treaty we have a right to set down 



)unds upon American soil ! A. You can, subject to the consent of the 



rners of the shore just the same as with respect to any fishery so 



>secuted in the Dominion. 



Q. Is it possible for any person to carry on the business of pound 

 fishing, except he is a resident on the coast ? A. I see no reason why 

 178 F 



