AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2871 



spccting it. I gave my impression from what I could hear from these 

 men and learn from my own observation, as you see, three or four years 

 ago ; and I gave it in good faith ; but whether right or wrong, of course 

 that was merely the impression which I received. The testimony given 

 here by gentlemen of integrity and character from the States is very 

 different from that ; and the testimony of men from the island, and the 

 masters of my vessels, is right the reverse. I do not think that my 

 opinion on this subject is worth anything under the circumstances. 



No. 72. 



MONDAY, October 22, 1877. 

 The Conference met. 



WALTER M. FALT, of Gloucester, Mass., fish merchant, called on 

 behalf of the Government of the United States, sworn and examined. 



By Mr. Trescot : 



Question. Where do you live ? Answer. At Gloucester. 



Q. How old are you ? 'A. Fifty-four. I am in my 55th year. 



Q. What is your business ? A. I carry on a fishing business. 



Q. What do you mean by that ? Are you a fish merchant, or are you 

 engaged actively in the fishing 1 A. We have a firm, and send out 

 vessels. 



Q. You have a firm, and are engaged in sending out fishing vessels 

 of your own? A. Yes. 



Q. Have you been a practical fisherman at any time! A. I was eleven 

 and a half years a master, and other years as a hand. 



Q. What fishing did you prosecute? A. Principally cod fishing and 

 halibut. George's fishing in the spring, and halibut fishing for the 

 remainder of the year. 



Q. You haven't been doing anything very much in mackerel ? A. I 

 never tried that since I was a master, but a month at a time was the 

 longest at any time, and hardly that. 



Q. How many vessels have you ? A. 18 now that we handle. 



Q. They are engaged in what sort of fishing ? A. Mackerel, fresh 

 halibut, George's, salt fishing. 



Q. What proportion of your vessels are engaged in the mackerel fish- 

 ing? A. We send ten in the business. 



Q. Where do they go generally? A. In the spring, generally south, 

 down oft* New York, and to the southward, then they follow this way ; 

 that is, on our western shore. 



Q. Do these ten vessels go into the gulf? A. We had five there this 

 year. 



Q. Have you been sending very long to the bay ? A. Well, this is 

 the first year we have had so many for the last three years. We dwindled 

 down until we had only one ; that was last year. 



Q. Have you any knowledge, or are you able to form any opinion 

 where your bay fishers go ? A. Well, they generally go northward to 

 the Banks Bradley and Orphan, up that way and across to the Mag- 

 dalens. 



Q. Have you been able to form any knowledge, from what you 

 know, what proportion of the catches are made within the three-mile 

 limit in the bay ? A. In all my practice, and what 1 understand from 

 my vessels, they practice outside of three miles on Bradley and Orphan, 

 and at the Magdalens. 



Q. Well, in the course of your experience, with your vessels going 

 to the coast and to the bay, have you been able to form any comparison 



