2856 



AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



A. We have had some very fine fish a few, but the majority have been 

 poor, very similar to 1874, when we got such a large catch. 



Q. The boat catch has been how good this year ? A. It has been 

 good more than an average. 



Q. But the average quality has been poor ? A. Yes. 



Q. Is that usually the case when the boat catch has been large ? A. 

 Well, we never get a large catch with boats unless they are poor ; that 

 is a very large catch I am speaking of now. A very large catch involves 

 small and poor fish. The average quality of the catch has not been 

 good this year, although the quantity has been large. I have at Kus- 

 tico ten boats, and we have taken 1,250 barrels, that is, 125 to a boat. 

 That is an average. Some of them have got 150, and some down to 100. 

 I think the first shipment amounted to 708 barrels. Over 650 of them 

 were poor number 3. I call all fish that will go to number 2 fat. 



Q. Yon have a table ? A. I have a table of the percentage of fat and 

 poor mackerel from 1868 down to 1876. Shall I read it? 



Q. If you please. A. This is a table of the whole quantity that our 

 iirm received : 



Statement of mackerel received by Hall, Hyrick <$ Co., Boston, 1868 to 1876, inclusive. 



Q. That table brings you to this year? Now, what proportion of those 

 were taken in boats and what proportion in vessels ? A. It is pretty 

 hard to make an estimate without going to the books. I haven't pre- 

 pared myself for it. 



Q. You can explain how many vessels you have. A. The greatest 

 number we fitted out was in 1871, when I had 8 vessels. 



Q. How many have you had since that ? A. I don't think I have had 

 over two since then., 



Q. You can tell in round numbers whether three-fourths or seven- 

 eighths is about the vessels' catch ? A. Taking the whole time together 

 there may have been one-eighth vessel catch. 



Q. But, of late years, since 3871, would more than seven eighths be 

 boat catch ? A. Yes, sir; nearly all. There have only been a few ves- 

 sels out since then. 



Q. Have you been inspector of mackerel on the island? A. Yes, sir. 



Q. You inspect your own mackerel? A. Yes. 



Q. When your mackerel goes to Boston is it required to be in spec ted ?r 

 A. No. 



Q. It is repacked and reinspected? A. To some extent the people 

 who buy it put it in smaller packages to suit their own convenience. 



Q. But it is not necessarily reinspected ? A. No. 



Q. And unless it is reinspected in that way your mackerel would not 

 go into the Massachusetts inspection figures ? A. No, thej* don't put 

 foreign mackerel into their report. 



