natives and was so until Nova Scotia and Newfoundland became such a nursery for us. These countries now raise up our fishermen, and they do not come among us until they are of age. Q. The object of my inquiry was this: It struck me from what you said that there was a very intimate connection between the cod and mackerel fisheries?-A. That is the case; the halibut fishery is included in the same category. By Mr. Davies: Q. Do you find any difficulty to get men to go on Georges Bank ?— A. Not much. Q. Is it not considered one of the most dangerous fishing places in the world?-A. It has been a very disastrous place some seasons; but within the past few years the disasters on the Grand Banks have exceeded those on Georges Bank; and some years the disasters in the bay have been more severe than those on Georges. We find that the dangers are divided around. We lost as many as 140 men one spring on Georges Bank. Some years it is very dangerous there. By Mr. Foster: Q. I am reminded that you said you recollected the first year when a mackerel-fishing vessel went to the bay?—A. I did not say so. I remember, however, a man who went on this first vessel. Q. Who was he?-A. Capt. Charles Wood. He is now dead-he died a few years ago. Q. You must have been pretty young at the time?-A. I was not very old; that was in 1830 or 1831. Q. What proportion of the fishermen of Gloucester come from the provinces-A. I suppose that over one-half of them come from the provinces and Newfoundland. Q. And how is it with the skippers ?-A. Well, I suppose that over one-half of our vessels are now skippered with natives of Nova Scotia. Q. Though they are really and nominally naturalized?-A. Of course they are naturalized after a time; they are good fishermen. Statement handed in by Mr. Joseph O. Procter, October 1, 1877, and referred to in his evidence. |