3430 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



Boston fishermen have applied to him for that purpose. This was many 

 years ago. 



Q. How many? A. It must now be eight or nine years ago. 



Q. For liberty to fish on what is called the French coast ? A. Yes, in 

 Newfoundland ; that fact is mentioned in the Eeport of the United States 

 Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 



Q. Did it go no further? Was the French minister addressed on the 

 subject ? A. I am not aware of that having been the case ; but as far 

 as I could and can judge, the extreme jealousy of the French the jeal- 

 ous manner in which they regard all their fisheries made it a hopeless 

 case. 



Q. Has the French Government, through its diplomatic agent at 

 Washington, or in France, or has the American Government, through 

 the Secretary of State or any one else, ever taken up that subject ? A. 

 The subject was brought up through the instrumentality of the French 

 Government; it was also done through the instrumentality of their 

 agent in the United States. 



Q. Do you mean the consul at Boston? A. No; but through the 

 agent of the French Government, who was sent to the United States 

 for the purpose of inquiring into their fisheries ; and his representation 

 was made to the French minister; but the applications had been made 

 to the French consul in Boston. 



Q. Then the French minister was told that certain persons in Boston 

 had so applied to the French consul there ? A. Yes. 



Q. And nothing more came of it? A. I am not aware of that having 

 been the case. 



Q. On page 91 of your book, under the head of certain conclusions 

 which you reach on this subject in connection with the Washington 

 Treaty, you say: 



The mackerel catch is a special industry, and requires sea-going vessels. 



That you are prepared to say? A. Yes. 

 Q. You continue : 



The boat equipment so common throughout our British American waters is wholly 

 unsnited to the pursuit of mackerel, which has been'eo largely carried on by United 

 States fishermen. 



A. Yes. 



Q. That you still consider to be true ? A. Yes. 



Q. That is, that the pursuit of mackerel should be carried on in large 

 vessels such as the United States fishermen use ? A. Pardon me. I 

 did not state it at all in that way. I explained a short time ago how it 

 was that larger vessels should be used by the inhabitants of the Bay of 

 Chaleurs, of Prince Edward Island, and elsewhere, in order to enable 

 them to take advantage of the spring mackerel fishery ; and if this was 

 done, these fishermen would become wealthy instead of remaining poor. 



Q. I did not like to call attention to the poverty or want of knowl- 

 edge or of education of the people of the country. A. V\ ill you kindly 

 point out where I have described these conditions ? 



Q. There are things which you have more right to say than I. A, 

 But I did not say them, 1 think. 



Q. You say that 



The boat equipment so common throughout onr British waters is wholly unsnited to 

 the pursuit of mackerel, which has been so largely carried on by United States fisher- 

 men ; and immense schools of mackerel are frequently left unmolested in the gulf and 

 on the coast of Newfoundland, in consequence of the fishermen being unprepared with 

 suitable vessels and gear. 



