' - * 



2914 AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. At what other places have you bought them ! A. I have done so 

 in the Bay of Fundy. 



Q. During this whole period of 20 years, have you ever heard whether 

 your vessels fished for or bought herring ? A. In one instance I fitted 

 out the schooner Rebecca M. Atwood, which went seining in the bay 

 in 18G8, in October, to go on a voyage to Newfoundland; and she pro- 

 cured a cargo of herring. On her return I was told by the master that 

 a portion of these herring were seined by them. I sent a seine and a 

 boat for seining with her. I also gave instructions to purchase, but they 

 succeeded, as I was told, in getting a portion of this cargo by seining. 



Q. When was this ? A. In 1868. 



Q. This vessel excepted, have you during these 20 years ever caught 

 herring ? A. No; that was the only instance when I ever caught them. 



Q. With the exception of this one vessel, have you ever known or 

 heard of American vessels which did catch herring there ? A. I have. 

 I, with Ezra Turner, who was before the Commission, I understand as 

 I was interested with him in some of his enterprises there sent nets 

 for the purpose of catching fish ourselves ; but not being successful, we 

 abandoned it. 



Q. How often did you try this ? A. Only once, I think. 



Q. Is that a different case from the one you have mentioned ? A. 

 Yes ; it was a different voyage, made to the Bay of Fundy instead of 

 Newfoundland. 



Q. Then, in the course of these 20 years you have known of only one 

 vessel that caught a portion of her cargo in Newfoundland, and another 

 which went to catch herring in the Bay of Fundy ? A. Yes. 



Q. How long ago was this? A. The first trip was made in 1868, and 

 the other about 20 years ago. 



Q. You have never been engaged in the herring business in any other 

 wise than purchase, and you have never known any American vessels 

 obtain them, save by purchase, with those exceptions ? A. Yes ; I 

 have known of one vessel which was reported to have been fitted out 

 from Gloucester expressly to catch herring in the Bay of Fundy ; she 

 was an American vessel, with an American crew, and with nets. 



Q. How long ago was this? A. Three or four years ago. 



Q. What became of her? A. The result was that they obtained some 

 herring, but, on the whole, it was not a paying business, and so they 

 abandoned it; so I was informed by the captain. 



Q. In the course of 20 years you have only known of two such 

 instances and heard of a third ? A. Yes ; that is all. 



Q. You are now living at Gloucester? A. Y"es. 



Q. What is the condition of the trade in salt mackerel now, compared 

 with what it was in times past? A. I think that there has been a 

 decline in the consumption of mackerel, and also a falling off in the 

 catches and in the trade generally within the last 15 years. 



Q. What are the causes of the falling off in the demand ? A. Of 

 course that is a matter of conjecture. I have no facts to establish my 

 opinion, but my idea is that this is caused by the greater abundance of 

 fresh fish, or rather the greater facilities for the transportation of fresh 

 fish into the interior of the United States by railroads diverging from 

 different points, and affording better facilities for transportation. It is 

 also due in a very large measure to the increase in the catch of our 

 western-lake fisheries. Another reason I would give for this is as fol- 

 lows :. I think there has been a great deal of fraud practiced by our 

 own packers, and the quality of the fish packed has hence deteriorated ; 





