AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2859 



Well, whenever there is a large catch of mackerel on the American 

 shores, a thing which happens once in six or seven years, the prices go 

 down invariably. In 1870, owing te the large quantity of mackerel 

 caught on the United States shores, the prices went down. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. At what time of the year did the break in the prices take place ? A. 

 It commenced about the December of 1870. We had to meet that dis- 

 aster, and the consequence was that in 1871 we had to sell our mackerel 

 at one-half of what it cost. In 1874 they had a great catch there, but 

 this was after we had free trade, of course. We had to meet a very low 

 price, and not having the duty to pay, we sustained ourselves and made 

 a decent thing of it. We caught a large quantity of fish. The largest 

 quantity ever caught was that year. 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. I think you are wrong about that year. A. The catch on the 

 American coast was in 1870, the great catch. But they also had a pretty 

 large catch the following year, and we had a large catch also. It fol- 

 lows almost invariably that whenever they have a very large catch on 

 the American shore we get a large part of those same fish the next year. 

 It followed in the same way. Now, in 1874 they had a pretty large 

 catch, and we had a very large catch. There was not as many mackerel 

 in the gulf, but they were all inshore, and we made the largest catch 

 ever made. In 1876, last year, our catch was very small. It was -the 

 poorest year we ever had. We had not only a poor catch, but poor 

 prices, as we had to contend with a great catch on the American 

 shore. We had a small catch and they had a large catch, and the re- 

 sult was that prices were very low, and of course it was a very disas- 

 trous year for Prince Edward Island as much so as any previous to 

 1871. ' 



By Mr. Foster : 



Q. Now, how large a quantity of high-priced mackerel, say, No. 1's, 

 will the United States market take in a year ? A. I can tell how many 

 No. 1's. 



Q. Take it at 820 a barrel, how many barrels would the United States 

 market ordinarily take ? A. It is now very unlike what it was ten 

 years ago; that is, the market for mackerel. Then we had a winter 

 trade, HOW we have none. The fact is no business man has now any 

 faith in a winter warket. 



Q. What becomes of the people who hold mackerel over usually ? 

 A. It is a losing business. It has been losing for several years. For- 

 merly it was not so. 



Q. You say the market is very different; what has caused the differ- 

 ence ? A. I have no doubt in my own mind it is the very large intro- 

 duction of fresh fish into the country, caught through the winter, and 

 the great production of the western lakes. That is the principal thing. 



Q. But of the fact there is, no doubt, that is, of the limitation of the 

 mackerel market? A. No doubt. It was easier to sell 200,000 ten 

 years ago than 100,000 to-day. 



Q. Now, you take No. 3 mackerel, what would be the effect of a duty 

 of 82 a barrel in the United States market? A. We could not catch 

 them and ship them there ordinarily unless there was a great scarcity 

 there, as happens this season. 



Q. Practically what would become of your business of catching mack- 

 erel if the duty of 82 a barrel were reimposed ? A. Well, when a man 

 runs his head against a post he must get around the best way he can. 



