3424 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Q. I tbiuk you have staled in your testimony that the thermometer 

 on the New England coast, the Grand Bank and George's Bank, &c., 

 is at 40 degrees at a certain period, owing to the action of the Arctic 

 current ? A. That is the case at the bottom but not at the surface. 



Q. Do you mean to say that? A. I certainly say so; and I especially 

 quoted Professor Verrill on the marine life of the George's Bank, stat- 

 ing that the temperature there is 40 degrees or below if. 



Q. I will read a portion of your testimony to see whether I understood 

 you ; it is as follows: 



The effect of every current in the ocean is to bring the cold stratum of water which 

 lies at a depth of ten or fifteen or twenty fathoms near to the surface, and one reason 

 why on Orphan and Bradley Banks the water is invariably cold is, that the tempera- 

 ture is thus affected by the currents which bring the cold water to the surface. That 

 is the reason why the water is always 14 or 16 colder on the Grand Banks than in 

 the surrounding'deep sea, simply because the cold Arctic current is forced up and is 

 brought to the surface. Over the George's shoals the marine life is that of the tem- 

 perature of about 40 degrees. So also is the spawning-grounds of the mackerel of 

 Massachusetts Bay. 



Q. Then what do you mean by saying that the temperature of life is 

 always about 40 degrees ? A. That is the temperature indicated the 

 marine life that is found on the rocks on the George's shoals ; for in- 

 stance, the species of shell-fish, the different varieties of shrimps and 

 the different species of star-fish. 



Q. Or any other fish ? A. Well, those are not true fish, but different 

 marine animals. 



Q. You named some fish ? A. The cod is found there. 



Q. Then there is a temperature sufficient for the spawning of cod on 

 George's Bank ? A. Most certainly, in the month of February ; but 

 the temperature rises materially in May. The temperature on George's 

 Bank is sometimes that of the Gulf Stream, which in summer flows over 

 it and drives at such times the cod away. 



Q. How far must you go down in May to get a current of water or 

 zone of water of the temperature of 40 degrees ? A. Where ? 



Q. On George's Bank ? A. The water on the George's shoals is only 

 eight fathoms deep in some parts. 



Q. Just take the lower part of the shoals, or the region just around 

 it ? A. I should say that in February you would find a portion of the 

 water on the George's shoals considerably lower than 40 degrees. I 

 should imagine that the temperature on these shoals would then be 32 

 degrees, or lower than that. The mean temperature on the Grand Banks 

 in February is 31 degrees. 



Q. As to the spawning-grounds of mackerel in Massachusetts Bay, 

 you say that is the same ; you say as to these sparwuing-grounds of 

 mackerel, that the Arctic current there produces a cold temperature of 

 about 40 degrees : is that correctly reported ? A. Yes ; but then it has 

 to be understood that for this you take the proper months of the year. 

 The temperature of the water varies with every month of the year. 



Q. To and fro ? A. Yes. 



Q. Steadily ? A. It varies to and fro with great regularity. 



Q. During what months of the year is the temperature the lowest in 

 Massachusetts Bay? A. February. In some parts of this bay salt- 

 water ice forms. 



Q. Then we may assume that it is cold enough there for the spawning 

 of fish that so spawn ? A. Certainly. 



Q. Will you state what you mean by speaking, as I understood, of 

 the mackerel coming into the Bay of St. Lawrence, and striking first at 



