3336 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



I began to fit my vessel for this trip on the llth of July, 1877, sailed 

 from Gloucester on the 14th ; went down to the coast of Maine, and 

 seined porgies for bait ; took 30 bbls of slivers ; I arrived in the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence on the 28th of July ; caught our first mackerel off East 

 Point, 4 miles from shore ; took 15 barrels ; then went up the east side 

 of Prince Edward Island, as far as New London, tried all the way up, 

 and got no mackerel. We then ran down the Island to Second Chapel, 

 and took 10 barrels of mackerel there, inside of three miles. Then run 

 down to the Magdalen Islands, and took 45 barrels in four days on the 

 hook, off Brine Island, over three miles from shore. I then went back 

 to P. E. Island, fished there for a week, and did not get 10 barrels of 

 mackerel. We then went to the whole northern side of Cape Breton, 

 tried all the way for mackerel, and got nothing. Again went to the 

 Magdalen Islands, tried there 4 days, and got 5 barrels of mackerel ; 

 went back to P. E. Island again, tried all round the north, east, and 

 south sides, and found nothing. I then fished off Port Hood, and Cape 

 George, took 10 barrels of mackerel, and being completely discouraged, 

 I left the Bay on the 24th of August. We could find no mackerel, 

 neither had any vessels we saw, seen any mackerel to speak of for a 

 fortnight. I know that the mackerel fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 is a thorough and complete failure this year, and cannot help being a 

 great loss to American owners and fishermen, in having their vessels 

 go there at all. I think the mackerel went out of the Bay, for the rea- 

 son that there was nothing in the water for them to eat. I consider 

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

 when fishing with hooks, had a great effect in keeping the mackerel in 

 the Bay. Since the vessels have ceased to go there in large numbers, 

 this bait has not been there to keep them in. Each American vessel 

 used to throw, on an average, 90 barrels of bait in a season, costing 

 from 4 to 6 dollars per barrel. 



My present trip from the Gulf of St. Lawrence packed out 90 barrels 

 of mackerel, mostly No. 2s, a few No. Is and No. 3s. 



The time consumed from the date of fitting, to final settlement, will 

 be just two months. 



My vessel is a new, first-class vessel, rating 90 tons, new measure- 

 ment. I had a seine boat and seine, partly used, worth 750 dollars. 



My vessel's charter is worth $300 per Month, for 2 months $600 00 



The use of seine and boat for 2 months, 150 00 



Sixteen Men's Wages, at $30 per Month, for 2 Months, 960 00 



Captain's Wages at $75 per Month, " 150 00 



Outfits, including Provisions, Bait, Salt Barrels, &c., 500 00 



Packing and Inspection, 70 00 



Insurance, 100 00 



Total Cost, $2, 530 00 



RECEIPTS. 



Ninety Barrels of Mackerel, at $12, $1, 080 00 



Actual Loss, $1, 450 00 



In 1875, I was in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and cruised all over it, 

 and found no mackerel at all. 



I have been in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for the last 20 years, every 

 year, except 1873, 1874, 1876. 



I did not go there last year, as all the reports showed that there was 

 no mackerel there. 



