AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2955 



Q. You had an extract read to you from the report of the Boston 

 Board of Trade. Had it rather a swelling auctioneering style with it? 

 How did it strike you? A. It may bo true, but it does not appear to 

 be so. 



Q. Ir. speaks of the colonial construction of the Treaty of 1808. That 

 is construction which keeps us out of the great bays? A. Yes. 



Q. Do you know how the colonies constructed the Treaty of 1818? 

 A. I don't recollect exactly. 



Q. If that report attributes the falling off in the gulf fishery, which 

 you say has been pretty steady, to the inability to fish within three miles 

 of the shore, is that a correct statement ? A. I could not say about 

 that. 



Q. Has the falling off of the gulf fishery from Gloucester been irre- 

 spective of the dates and times at which treaties have gone into opera- 

 1 tion, and has it been on the whole steady and uniform? A.. I think it 

 has been stead3 T . 



Q. If anybody did in 1855 form the opinion that our fishermen would 

 prosper vastly if they could fish within the three miles and would go to 

 ruin if they could not, has it or has it not turned out to be an entirely 

 erroneous opinion ? A. I think so. 



Q. Is it true of the fishing tonnage, that during the three years after 

 the abrogation of the ^Reciprocity Treaty, the tonnage fell from 203,000 

 j to 62,000? A. I think not. 



Q. Is that anything within reason ? A. I think not. 



Q. The fishing clauses of the Washington Treaty had not been in 

 operation in Prince Edward Island more than two years, and in other 

 parts not more than one year, when the speech was made. Mr. Brooks 

 says: 



3d. The reconcession of tbe shore privileges under the Washington Treaty has already 

 doubled the tonnage of our fishiug licet from what it was in 1869. 



Have you any idea of such a thing having happened? A. No. 



Q. Has the amount of tonnage employed in the bay fishery increased 

 or diminished within the last six years ? A. It has diminished. 



Q. And there has been no marked change in its favor since the Wash- 

 ington Treaty went into operation. The fishing in the gulf has not 

 increased, but has diminished, without reference to the Washington 

 Treaty ? A. The fishing in the gulf yes. 



Q. You have not seen this speech, made by Mr. Erastus Brooks, be- 

 fore ? A. No. 



Q. The extract from the Cape Ann Advertiser, which has been read, 

 shows an increase of six vessels during the quarter. Four of these are 

 under permanent registers. Those, I suppose, are not bay fishiug ves- 

 sels? A. No; I suppose not. 



Q. They would be trading vessels ? A. Yes. 



Q. Has the tonnage of Gloucester engaged in trailing with the West 

 Indies and Europe and other parts increased ? A. Yes, and the coast- 

 ing trade. 



Q. Taking all the fishing the home fishing for cod, haddock, and 

 halibut, on all the banks, and fishing in the gulf has it, oil the whole, 

 increased or diminished ? A. I think it has increased somewhat. 



Q. But the increase has been in what branch of the business? A. 

 Mostly in the coasting trade. Perhaps our fishiug has increased some- 

 what. 



Q. Has the cod-fishing increased or decreased ? A. It has increased. 



Q. And the bay fishing has decreased ? A. Yes. 



