2942 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Yes ; I suppose he did. I could not say. He did not say anything 

 about that. 



Q. You don't know ? A. I do not know whether he went within the 

 three miles. If I was going to the island, the first route I would take 

 would be 7 or 8 or 10 miles off the land, and if I did not find fish there, 

 I might go in nearer or farther out. 



Q. Would it surprise you to hear that nearly all the boat fishing is 

 done inside of the three miles ? A. It would not surprise nie at all, 

 because I know that it is inshore this year. 



Q. The fish are mostly in there ? A. They are scattered fish. A 

 boat with two or three men picks up a barrel before night comes on. 

 But to go in there with a vessel, the crew would be almost starved to 

 death, for they would get nothing among 16 men. I know it is so, for 

 I have seen so much of it. 



Q. You have not been there for 14 years ? A. I don't say it is so 

 every time; there might be one or two trips made; but that is the char- 

 acter of the inshore-fishing. 



Q. You told the Commissioner you always went from six to seven 

 miles off, and you were so particular you did not try coming out of the 

 harbor? A. I think I said he might have hove to and tried, and might 

 have caught some mackerel. We did not reckon to heave to there as a 

 general thing. If I said so I did not mean it, for we hove to a good many 

 times in and out, but I never recollect catching mackerel there of any 

 account inshore, not inside of three miles. 



By Mr. Foster : 



Q. Speaking of halibut-fishing, do you not know where the halibut- 

 fishermen go to catch halibut ? A. Yes, I know. I don't go with them 

 to see where they anchor, but I know it the same as I know a good many 

 other things. 



Q. Cannot an experienced man tell from the characteristics of the fish 

 where the halibut were caught? A. The Georges halibut is a plump, 

 white fish, while that taken on the Grand Banks in deep water is a 

 coarse, heavy fish. We do not get any such fish on the Georges, where 

 they are all plump and white. The Seal Island halibut, when we used 

 to* get them there, is also a plump, white fish, but I have not heard of 

 any halibut having been taken there for a series of years. 

 By Hon. Mr. Kellogg : 



Q. You have spoken in regard to seeing vessels 15 miles from Port 

 Hood. Suppose a man is standing at the edge of the water, how far can 

 you see him, in view of the roundness of the earth ? A. I cannot tell you. 



By Sir Alexander Gait : 



Q. You have said that a large portion of your business is cod-fishing. 

 Have you fished with fresh or salt bait as a rule ? A. With fresh bait 

 altogether. Most of our cod-fishing is on the Georges, and they use 

 fresh bait altogether. While banking we have used fresh bait. 



Q. That is on Grand Banks ? A. Yes, but it does not pay us. The 

 last vessel that came home is the last one I want to go after fresh bait. 

 She went in four times and brought home 75 quintals: the vessel was 

 only a little over a month on the Banks. I will have no more fresh bait t 

 at that rate costing over 8400 for the four bait trips. 

 By Mr. Davies : 



Q. It has been stated here that, so long as a portion of the fleet fish 

 with fresh bait, you are compelled to have it? A. Yes, if on the sjinie 

 ground. The Grand Bants are, however, large, and they can keep 



