fishermen's memorial and record book. 157 



quiet manner, enjoying himself, after his many years of battling the 

 elements on the deck of a fishing craft. Now and then the captain 

 comes to Gloucester. He must have a look at the harbor, and a 

 snuff of the sea-breeze, enjoy a cruise around the -wharves, and a talk 

 with his old companions. It was on one of these recent visits that 

 we had an opportunity of interviewing him, and obtained the follow- 

 ing spicy incidents, which form an interesting chapter in the " Memo- 

 rial and Record Book " : — 



In the year 1841, he made three trips to the bay, one for herring, 

 and two for mackerel. It was the law then to pay fourpence a ton, 

 light-mone}^, each trip. On the third trip, a daughter of Dr. Can- 

 trill, of Guysboro', N. S., who had been working in Lowell, wished 

 to take passage. Her father had recently died, and the girl, in re- 

 sponse to the urgent call of her mother, was extremely desirous of 

 getting home, where she could comfort her widowed parent, and do 

 what lay within her power for the benefit of the family. Now it was 

 against the law, in those times, for a fishing vessel to carry passen- 

 gers ; but the kind-hearted captain could not resist the appeal of the 

 daughter, who wished to get home that she might assist her afflicted 

 relatives ; so he consented to take her home. This he did on his own 

 responsibility, without any compensation, save the satisfaction which 

 the performance of a good deed, in this world of ours, affords. Accord- 

 ingly, she came on board ; and upon the vessel's arriving at Canso, 

 he carried her ashore in the boat. The vessel did not come to anchor, 

 and while he was landing the girl, a custom-house officer, named Big- 

 elow, came on board, and put the king's broad " R " on the mainmast, 

 which proclaimed lier a prize. 



When Capt. Pattillo returned on board, the officer informed him that 

 he had seized the vessel, for landing a passenger and her effects, con- 

 trary to law. 



" Now, then," he says, " I want to see your papers." 



The vessel's boat was hoisted in, and Capt. Pattillo went below to 

 get his papers, and returning on deck with the documents^ asked the 

 officer if he thought himself the master of the schooner. 



" Yes," was the reply. 



Shortly after, he demanded of Capt. Pattillo the light-money j but 

 he thought if the officer was really in command, he should pay the 

 light-money himself, and so informed him. 



Then a lucky thought struck the captain, and he asks, in a sten- 

 torian voice, " B}' what authority he was on board the schooner, and 

 where were his documents to prove that he was a revenue officer?" 



