AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2869 



upon as a failure altogether. Different opinions are entertained in this 

 regard. 



Q. Some think it is a failure and some think it is not! A. I think 

 that going into this seining is generally looked upon as a mistake. 



Q. Why ? A. It is looked upon as an instrument that may be dis- 

 astrous to the fishing in the future. A great many fish are lost in this 

 mode of seining. A great many fish are thus caught which cannot be 

 taken out, and they are hence altogether lost. I do not think that this 

 has occurred here, but it has occurred on the American coast. 



Q. What do you say your shipments of mackerel will be this year 

 7,000 or 8,000 barrels ? A. Yes. 



Q. What do you think the island shipments will amount to thia 

 year ? A. They will approximate between 20,000 and 25,000 barrels. 



By Mr. Foster : 



Q. You do not mean that this quantity has gone forward ? A. I 

 mean the whole shipments. This is, however, a mere estimate. 



Q. Mr. Davies has made the hypothesis that the United States vessels 

 take two-thirds of their catch in the gulf within the limits, and he asked 

 you what effect, under these circumstances, would their exclusion from 

 these be, if they had a small catch on their own coast, and you say that 

 this would tend to enhance the price, aud of course it would. I would 

 now like to know whether, on that hypothesis, prices would go up indefi- 

 nitely, or whether there is a point where people would stop buying 

 mackerel ? A. Mackerel will not be consumed in large quantities at 

 high prices. 



Q. What is the price at which they will stop buying, the quantity 

 taken of mess mackerel, purchased as a luxury, excepted f A. Large 

 quantities of mackerel cannot be sold at prices over $8 for number 

 threes, at about $10 and $11 for number twos, aud about $12 or $14 for 

 number ones. 



Q. Do vessels which come to the gulf with seines, also bring hooks and 

 lines ! A. Yes ; they do. 



Q. Do you mean to say that no merchant can depend on mackerel 

 continuing in demand at high prices ? A. No, he cannot. The business 

 then falls off. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. We have heard of a vessel called the Lettie, which fished on the 

 American coast, of which, I believe, you are proprietor? A. Yes. 



Q. Can you tell me where she fished on the American coast, and 

 whether she was successful ? A. She fished there one year for pogies, 

 and was very successful. She got all she could bring.. 



Q. Did she fish close to the shore or offshore ! A. I think that she 

 fished pretty near the shore sometimes. 



Q. That is the only Canadian vessel which you know of as having fished 

 there? A. I am not acquainted with any other that has done so. 



. By Mr. Davies : 



Q. How much do you pay the fishermen per barrel on shore for their 

 mackerel^ A. I have paid them $1.50 per 100 fish. 



Q. What is that per barrel ? A. $3.75. 



Q. How much salt do you use for a barrel of mackerel ! A. It will 

 take about 5 pecks to use a barrel and pack it. 



Q. What does the salt cost you ? A. 25 cents a bushel. 



Q. When you speak of paying them $3.75 a barrel, you mean all 

 round for ones, twos, and threes? A. That would be for the average. 



