AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 3323 



My vessel is a new, first-class one, 79 tons. 



I carried a seine-boat and seine. 



The charter of my vessel is worth $250 per month, $500 00 



Wages of 14 men, at $30 per month, 840 00 



Captain's wages, two months, 140 00 



Outfits, 600 00 



Packing and inspection, 12000 



Insurance, 100 00 



Use of seine and boat, 150 00 



Cost of trip, $2, 450 00 



Keceipts 160 barrels mackerel, at $12, $1, 920 00 



Loss, $530 00 



I have been in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 14 seasons for mackerel. I 

 was there in 1875, and brought home 70 barrels ; was gone over two 

 months. The mackerel fishery in the bay is a failure, compared with 

 former years. The mackerel do not stay there as formerly. I do think 

 that the large amount of bait, thrown by American vessels, formerly 

 kept the mackerel in the Bay. There is no feed at all for the mackerel 

 in the Bay now. I have seen no brit or shrimp there this year. Some of 

 the mackerel I took had small smelt in them ; this is unusual. I never 

 saw any smelt in mackerel in the Bay before. I have never caught 

 many mackerel inshore, except at the Magdalen Islands. I have caught 

 more inshore this trip than any I have been. My best judgment, from 

 my experience, as fair and candid, is, that not more than one-sixth of 

 the mackerel taken by American vessels, are taken within three miles 

 of the shore. 



I have taken many whole trips without going inside of five miles. 

 "When a large fleet of vessels are throwing bait, they can keep the mack- 

 erel off shore five miles without any trouble. 



I have trans-shipped my fare of mackerel once, from Canso. The ex- 

 pense, landed in Gloucester, was one dollar per barrel. I never heard 

 of boats being injured, nor any complaint whatever. Never heard or 

 knew of mackerel gurry hurting the fisheries ; in dressing mackerel the 

 fish will follow the vessel to get the gurry thrown over. 



I have seined off the American shore for mackerel two seasons. The 

 American shore mackerel are much better than the Bay mackerel in 

 quality and price. 



I have stocked as high as $7,000 in one season in the Bay, eight years 

 ago. 



My lowest stock for one season in the Bay was $600. 



An American vessel, as they are now fitted, must stock $5,000 in the 

 Bay, to pay her bills. I have been the two last winters to Newfoundland 

 for herring. Bought all my herring of the people on shore. Paid on an 

 average eight shillings per barrel, or $1.60; paid for some $2. There is 

 no way that the people there can realize so much for their herring as 

 this sale to American vessels. The American trade there for herring 

 is the chief support of the people, and is a source of great profit to 

 them. 



I have been master of the schooners Quickstep, Belvidere, Seaman's 

 Pride, Enterprise, D. A. Bunliam, Fred. G erring. Charlotte Augusta, Mary 

 E. Daniels, Joseph Chandler, Martha C. 



CHARLES MAETIN. 



