3342 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



1873 in the schooner Knight Templar, of Gloucester, we took 450 barrels 

 of mackerel, all of which were taken more than 3 miles from the shore 

 except about 50 barrels taken inshore near Rustico. In all my trips to 

 the Bay I do not think that one-fifth of all the mackerel taken were 

 caught within three miles of the shore. 



EDWAED N. WILKINS. 



Sworn before me, at the City of Halifax, in the County of Halifax, 

 this 29th day of September, A. D. 1877. 



EOBT. SEDGEWICK, Notary Public. 



No. 275. 



I, John S. Staples, of Swans Island, Maine, on oath depose and say 

 that 1 am master of the schr. John Somes, of Portland, Me., and have 

 been engaged in catching mackerel during this season, commenced by 

 fishing off the American shore, and caught 450 barrels which averaged 

 $10 per barrel. The favorable reports from Canso induced me to go 

 down the Bay of St. Lawrence and I accordingly sailed about the 25th 

 of July. I was on the trip a little over a month, tried for mackerel all 

 the way from Port Hood to New London Head, and from there to Mag- 

 dalene Islands and from there to Margaree Island, and succeeded in 

 getting only eleven barrels which are worth $8 per barrel. I lost on 

 this trip to the Bay 1500, at the least calculation. At Canso I was 

 visited by the officer who exacted one dollar from me for the support of 

 buoys this is collected of all American vessels. I arrived home from 

 the Bay about the 3rd Sept. and since that time I have caught 150 

 barrels of mackerel on this shore, which are worth $1400. In year 1872 

 I was master of schr. Joseph Story, of Gloucester, was in the Bay 

 mackereliug and caught 250 barrels, not over 10 barrels of which were 

 caught within three miles of the shore. In the year 1873 I was captain 

 of the same schooner and fished for mackerel off the American shore 

 and took 900 barrels, from which we stocked $8,000. In 1874 I was in 

 the said schooner up to July 25th, when I left her on account of sick- 

 ness, up to that time we took 650 barrels, from which we stocked $3,500 

 all this year the said schooner fished on the American shore. After I 

 left her the said schooner took 600 barrels. In 1875 I was in schooner 

 Rushlight and fished for mackerel on the American coast, and took during 

 the season 900 barrels and stocked about $7,000. In 1876 (last year) I 

 was in the schooner John Somes, and fished for mackerel the whole 

 season on the American shore and took 1,600 barrels and stocked $9,500. 

 I would state that previous to the years enumerated above, I was in the 

 Bay mackereling for 15 years and am confident that not one-twentieth 

 part of the mackerel caught were caught within the three mile limit. I 

 consider and regard the mackerel fishery on the American shore as far 

 more superior and valuable than the British Bay fishery. 



In the Winter of 1870 I was in the schooner Annie E. Friend, and 

 went to Grand Manan for cargo of frozen herring, and bought 300,000 

 at the rate of 45 cents per 100. There was at the time 20 sail of 

 vessels there after herring, all of which loaded with herring and bought 

 them of the inhabitants they carrying all the way from 150,000 to 

 400,000, at from 40 to 60 cents per 100. This trade with the American is 

 of great importance to the inhabitants, as they would undoubtedly suffer 

 were it not for this trade as they get a great deal of money from this 

 source, which is all clear gain to them, as they have no other market 

 lor their herring. 



JOHN S. STAPLES, 

 Master of Schooner John Somes. 



