AKGUMENT OF SIR WILLIAM ROBSON. 1793 



would find a custom-house. But, in the Bay of Islands there are 

 plenty. 



I have here one of the officials from the Bay of Islands, Mr. 

 O'Reilly, and perhaps you will allow him to go round and show 

 upon this chart where the custom-houses are within the coasts used 

 by the American vessels. 



(Mr. O'Reilly exhibits the position of custom-houses by means of 

 a map.) 



JUDGE GRAY : Have you shown one of these maps to the other side ? 



MR. WARREN: There is no custom-house on the north side of the 

 Bay of Islands at all. 



MR. O'REILLY: The cutter is here. She takes in the four arms. 

 She is stationed there. 



JUDGE GRAY : "Where did this vessel sail from when she went out 



the " Columbia " ? 

 1084 MR. O'REILLY : From here. (Indicating.) 



MR. WARREN: This is Green Island. If they go out that 

 way there is no custom-house. 



MR. O'REILLY: That would not be in their course. That is the 

 way the vessels always go out when bound for Gloucester or bound 

 to sea. (Indicating.) 



JUDGE GRAY : Are you living there ? 



MR. O'REILLY : I do not live there no. 



SIR W. ROBSON: I am told Mr. O'Reilly is the Inspector of Cus- 

 toms, and that he goes there very frequently, especially during the 

 season's trading. He is there all the time the American boats are 

 there. 



Of course, the Bay of Islands, in practice, is really the important 

 place, but there are other important bays at which there are some 

 customs arrangements. One is surprised, when one looks around 

 the coast, remembering how small a country Newfoundland is, at the 

 number of custom-houses. One would almost think that one of the 

 main reasons for the existence of the island is the collection of rev- 

 enue. They have plenty of opportunities for collecting it if they can 

 get the vessels there to pay. Then we, of course, have only demanded 

 that if a vessel enters a bay or port for distress or any other reason 

 of that sort, and if there is a custom-house, she shall report. We 

 have never demanded, we do not now demand, that a vessel shall 

 report herself to non-existent custom-houses or that she shall go some 

 great distance quite unnecessarily in order to make a report; but, if 

 a vessel comes to fish within reasonable distance of a custom-house 

 or any port or place where goods are easily landed, then, of course, 

 we expect that she shall avail herself of the accommodation that is 

 there and make some report accordingly. 



