AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. "2899 



sels which went one year on our shore and the next year into the bay, 

 changing their voyage. They were the same vessels precisely ; some 

 fished on our shore one year and the next year in the bay. 



Q. Sometimes vessels going into the bay make very short trips, and at 

 other times this is not the case ; there is no particular average for their 

 trips in the bay? A. Of late years the mackerel fishery has been 

 prosecuted longer on our shore than was previously the case ; this has 

 been so since we commenced seining. The vessels during this period 

 have gone south to fish. 



Q. Would that be about an average of the trips in the bay and on 

 your shore? A. Yes; I think that is the exact time which they are 

 usually gone. 



Q. Others make 3 trips ? A. I should include all the trips in the one. 



Q. You are not able to name the actual vessels which went, and the 

 actual period of time for which they were gone? A. No; not now. 



Q. Could you do so ? A. Yes. 



Q. Within a reasonable time ? A. I could do so in a week's time. 



Q. It was during the war you made the highest interest on your in- 

 vestment ? A. Yes. 



Q. That was during the Reciprocity Treaty ? A. During the latter 

 part of it. 



Q. Is it customary to charter vessels in Gloucester? A. It is not a 

 general custom ; it is done occasionally. 



Q. Have you ever done it ? A. Yes, I have chartered vessels. 



Q. From Gloucester ? A. From Gloucester people. 



Q. Fishing-vessels? A. Yes. 



Q. What did you pay per month ? A. When we chartered a vessel, 

 which was some time ago, I think we paid $250 a month. 



Q. Did you get the vessel already fitted out for that sum ? A. Yes. 



Q. Is that chartering a usual or an unusual thing? A. It is an un- 

 usual thing. 



Q. Very unusual ? A. It is not customary ; it is not the general 

 practice. 



Q. That was a fishing- vessel you chartered? A. I think fora fishing 

 voyage. I have chartered herring vessels to go to Newfoundland. 



Q. You chartered vessels to go down and buy frozen herring in New- 

 foundland ? A. To go in winter. 



Q. I am speaking of mackerel-fishing. Do you know of any vessel 

 being chartered for that fishing '? A. Y"es, a vessel has been chartered 

 this summer. 



Q. But excepting that vessel, have vessels been so chartered during 

 the last ten years ? A. They are chartered more or less every year. 



Q. For mackerel-fishing? A. Yes. 



Q. That system has been kept up? A. It is not a common practice, 

 but out of the 300 or 400 vessels, some years perhaps three or four would 

 > ! be chartered and other years one or two ; it is a small number. 



Q. When you were fishing for herring at Newfoundland and Grand 

 Manan, how did you enter them in your market ? A. As merchandise. 



Q. As American herring ? A. No; we went under a register, and 

 entered them as British products. 



Q. Did you pay any duty on them ? A. No ; fresh fish for immediate 

 | (Consumption are admitted duty free always. 



Q. When you spoke of paying $250 per month for the charter of a 

 vessel, did you mean it to apply to the winter or summer season ? A. 

 I ;Io the summer season for mackerel. 



