AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. .'.Ill 



By Mr. Doutre: 



Q. I simply wish to ask you a question to bring out a full explanation 

 in regard of this book A. 1 have given every explanat ; on. 



Q. The government wanted to use your practical knowledge for its 

 own guidance and requested you to prepare this information ? A. I 

 presume so, but this manuscript book which I have prepared was pre- 

 pared especially for my own evidence. 



Q. When were you requested by the government to devote yourself 

 to this business ? A. Well, I was requested in the first week in May. 

 I received a telegram at St. John's, Newfoundland. 



Q. You were requested by the Minister of Marine ami Fisheries to go 

 to Ottawa ? A. Yes, and provided that the Newfoundland Government 

 would agree that I should put off the expedition to the Labrador until 

 next year I consented to go. I submitted the request to the Govern- 

 ment of Newfoundland, made through the Minister of Marine and Fish- 

 eries, and they agreed in the most cordial manner, and I at once went 

 to Ottawa. 



Q. You were put in communication with Mr. Whitcher? A. Yes. 



Q. You were to devote all your time aud give the result to the gov- 

 ernment? A. Since that I have devoted the whole of rny time to the 

 preparation of this report on the subject generally; since that time to 

 the present moment. 



By Hon. Mr. Kellogg : 



Q. There is one point in your evidence with regard to layers of waters 

 and the temperature of the water, aud I understand you to say that the 

 colder layer would come to the surface. Why would the colder layer 

 come to the top, although it is of greater density ? A. In rushing over 

 the Banks the cold water, which is at the bottom, forces the warm water 

 up and it flows out on either side. 



Q. You don't approve very much of the theory of the mackerel mi- 

 grating. Probably you don't believe in it? You think they go into the 

 mud and hibernate f A. In the mud and sand. 



Q. Well, to what extent do you believe they do so J Is that the way 

 the great part of the mackerel dispose of themselves in the winter f 

 A. I think that is so, not only with the mackerel but with a number of 

 other fish. 



Q. Well, does that account for the disappearance of the muckerel dur- 

 ing the winter to any considerable extent ? A. Yes. 



Q. They go to the bottom or into the sand? A. iTes. 



Q. Weil, to what extent do you think they do it ? A. I think they all 

 hibernate just the same as the sturgeon in fresh water; and on the 

 United States coast, the tautog, the scup, and other fish hibernate. 



Q. How far do you think they go out? What number of fathoms to 

 get into the mud ? A. It depends entirely on the ice. They always 

 appear to select those spots where the salt-water ice shall not be drifted 

 in, so that they will not be exposed to the cold current dropping down 

 from the salt ice as it melts in the spring. 



Q. Where does the American coast mackerel go ? Thny don't have 

 the Arctic waters there very much ? A. O, yes ; the Arctic current is 

 felt in winter nearly as far as Cape Hatteras. 



Q. You spoke of the cod schooling. I had not understood that the 

 cod schooled in the way that the mackerel schooled. How does the 

 schooling show itself, in the same way as the mackerel f A. Cod school 

 like mackerel before spawning; they also appear to school at the begin 

 ning of each bait season. It is the schooling habit which enables them 

 to be seined. 

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