2880 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. How old are yon f A. 42 years old. 



Q. You a member of the firm of John Pew & Sons, founded by 

 your father when ? A. In 1849. 



Q. I believe it is the largest tirm in Gloucester ? A. I guess it is the 

 largest in the States. 



Q. What is your business ! A. Owners and fitters of vessels, and 

 dealers in fish and salt. 



Q. How many vessels have you owned or controlled within the last 

 fifteen or twenty years ? A. About 20 ; we have averaged about 20. 



Q. By the way, your father started the firm in 1849 ; when did you 

 go into it ? A. I went into it when I was 16 years old as a clerk. Then 

 as a partner when I was 20. He shortened my time. 



Q. Did you have a brother also in it ? A. Yes. 



Q. He retired from it in 1861, I am informed ? A. Yes. Then my 

 younger brother came in two or three years after that. He is in it now. 



Q. I thought you had a brother that retired about the end of the war T 

 A. That is my elder brother. 



Q. Who compose the firm now! A. My father, myself, and my 

 younger brother. William A. Pew retired at the beginning of the war. 

 My father, previous to the establishment of the business, went fishing 

 himself as a little boy. 



Q. Now, what is the principal business of the firm ? What branch ? 

 A. Well, all are about equally important. We are largely engaged iu 

 dealing in codfish. Probably codfish is the larger part of the business. 

 We deal largely in mackerel and herring, and also in salt. 



Q. Can you give us a statement of your mackerel business in the bay 

 and on the coast of the United States for the past few years t A. I 

 can. It is as follows : 



