AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 

 Codfixh-trips. 



2971 



There were a fleet of small vessels -which went home from early trip before the boat was out. This 

 includes American vessels only. Have these iizures from captains and crews. 



D. MURRAY, JR. 

 SEPTEMBER 25, 1877. 



By Mr. Davies : 



Q. When you were examining the books for the purpose of making 

 up the return of vessels lost, did it occur to you to compare the pro- 

 portion of vessels lost in the bay with that lost on George's Bank ? A. 

 No. I did not examine them for that purpose. I did not have a return 

 on that point. 



Q. How was this return- prepared ; you say, I see, in some cases, that 

 the vessels were lost " at sea"? A. You will observe, with regard to the 

 preparation of reports of that kind, that we get from the owners the 

 best information they can give in this respect; they report every vessel 

 that is lost. I could not swear to the exact accuracy of every report ; 

 these reports are prepared in the same manner as all custom-house busi- 

 ness is usually done. 



Q. Is this information obtained from the owners at the time of the 

 loss of vessels? A. Yes, as nearly as possible, as a general thing. I 

 can only tell in this regard for my own term of office. We have always 

 secured this information as soon as vessels are lost. 



Q. If I went to the books of your office, would I find the statement 

 contained in this return on their face, about the time these vessels were 

 lost, as you have it copied out here? A. You would find some of them 

 at the end of the year when we collect the information when we are 

 obliged to make up the list of vessels; and we drop from the list those 

 which we cannot carry over into the next year. 



Q. Some I would find there? A. Yes. 



Q. And some I would not find ? A. For previous years you would 

 find them at the end of the year. 



Q. Would I find them all there ? A. Yes, all we carry over ; we have 

 a list of vessels for 1876 ; and at the end of the year, in January, we 

 make up a new list and transmit it to the department in which we put 

 all the vessels owned in the district and how they are disposed of, stat- 

 ing whether they have been sold out of the district or whatever way 

 they may have been disposed of, or lost, or wherever they may have 



