2862 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



you mean my boats! I pay 81.50 a hundred for their portion of the fish, 

 delivered'on the stage. We dress them and do all the work. 



Q. Let us have the biggest and lowest price you pay them. A. I 

 have paid within three or four years $2.00 to 81.25. $1.50 is the aver- 

 age. 



Q. You say that is for their part of the fish. What do you mean ? 

 A. I find them the boat, lines, bait, provisions, and everything that be- 

 longs to the fishing. They have no expense. They catch their fare and 

 bring them into the harbor and we take account of them. We allow 

 him 81.50 a hundred for half the fish. The other half is ours. You 

 wanted to know how many we take for the barrel. 



Q. I didn't come to that. Have you a copy of the agreement ? A. 

 (Produces and reads agreement.) 



Q. That is before it is cured ? A. That is for fresh fish landed on the 

 stage. 



Q. Xow, being paid at that rate, how much can a man earn in a 

 month ? A.* In a good season he will earn from 820 to 825; in a poor 

 season from $12 to 815. 



Q. I don't think I asked you about the size of the boats. If there are 

 boats of different sizes4hat fish in different ways, I would like you to 

 tell ! A. We have large boats, with five men to a boat. 



Q. How long are those ? A. From 22 to 25 feet keel. 



Q. How long do they stay out ! Do they stay over night? A. Not 

 my boats. The men all sleep ashore. 



Q. What is the size of the smaller boats ? A. A great many little 

 boats fish all round the island ; some quite small, perhaps 12 or 15 feet 

 keel. 



Q. Are some owned by farmer fishermen ? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you buy fish from them f A. Yes. A great many of them ship 

 their own fish. 



Q. Through you ? A. Yes, sometimes. 



Q. And get the benefit of the market ! A. Yes. 



Q. That is getting general. Is that a branch of industry that has 

 been built up since the fishery clauses of the treaty went into effect ? 

 A. It has been very much built up within the last few years. It has 

 been done by dozens of men that formerly sold us their fish. 



Q. You have given us a description of what is called half-line fishing ; * 

 what is quarter-line fishing? A. That is where the fisherman receives 

 a specified sum per month, and gives the owner one-fourth of the fish 

 for that sum ; the owner thus receiving three- fourths of his catch. 



Q. You find them in food? A. Yes, everything. They hare no ex- 

 pense, except for their own clothing. 



Q. Do you mean that you board them for the month ? A. We find a 

 building for them, and have a cook-house. They sleep, eat, and every- 

 thing. They have no expense. 



Q. Have you examined the Prince Edward Island statistics at my 

 request I A. I have. 



Q. Have you read the testimony of your partner, Mr. Mvrick, as to 

 them? A. I did. 



Q. You know what he testified ? A. Yes. 



Q. How does your judgment correspond with his in reference to the 

 correctness or incorrectness of those island statistics ? A. I think he 

 is very nearly correct. 



Q. Are there any particulars in which you would correct his state- 

 ment ? A. Well, I might if I had the details, but as a general thing I 

 would not. 



