AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1811 



of his adopted country, Mr. Norton, has stated in his dispatches to be 

 absolutely necessary to their fishermen, and for which they ought to pay. 

 Now for the use of these lights, which save vessels from being destroyed, 

 which warn them of their danger, when danger is near, lie refused to 

 pay the dues; he does not pretend to say that he did not know that the 

 officer in question had a perfect right to collect these duties, but never- 

 theless, instead of paying, he asks, "Where are your papers ? n The 

 officer replies, " I have left my papers on shore." Then, exclaims 

 Pattilo, " Be off out of here;" and he gives a most graphic description of 

 how he turned the officer into his boat. I should think that he was a 

 nice subject to go to war about. 



Mr. FOSTER. This affair arose, not because he would not pay the light- 

 dues, but because be had the charity to bring home a woman. 



Mr. THOMSON. No; it occurred on account of the refusal to pay light- 

 dues. 



Mr. FOSTER. There is no evidence to that effect. 



Mr. THOMSON. I will turn to the evidence and we will see. I think 

 that your excellency and your honors will recollect that it was the light- 

 dues which the officer wanted to collect. If Pattilo stated that it was 

 for bringing home and landing a lady who wanted to be landed there, 

 I should say at once that you would not believe it. To suppose that 

 any officer of any English or Dominion cutter would undertake to lire 

 shots after him, because he landed a lady to whom he had charitably 

 given passage to some place in the Gut of Canso, is simply too ridicu- 

 lous a supposition to be tolerated for a moment. Well, I will not take 

 up your time now with this subject, but if my learned friend will turn to 

 the evidence, and point out that I am mistaken in saying that the trouble 

 arose with reference to the light-dues, I will admit my error. 



Mr. FOSTER. Will you read these two paragraphs? 



Mr. THOMSON. In the course of my cross examination of this witness, 

 {he following evidence was given : 



Q. Were you lying close inshore? A. I was at anchor and not fishing. 



Q. Lying close inshore? A. Yes, right close in, under Margaree for shelter. He did not 

 attempt to take.me; if he had I would have given him a clout, but he took another Tesael, 

 the Harp, Captain Andrews. I kept a watch all night, but they did not come alongside ; if 

 they had, we would have given them grape-shot, I bet. 



I thought that I could not be mistaken at all about it. 



Q. Had you grape-shot on board? A. We had a gun, loaded with slugs or something of 

 that sort. 



Q. In fact, then, you were never boarded by a customs or seizing officer f A. I WM 

 boarded by an officer who came for light-money, at Little Causo, that same year. 



Q* Did yon pay the light-money? A. No. 



Q. Why ? A. Because this man was not authorized to receive it. 



Q. What did you do? A. I hove him into his boat, of course, and got rid of him. 



Q. You knew that the light-money was due ? A. Certainly ; and I was billing to py it, 

 had the right man come for it. 



Q. Did he represent himself to be a custom-house officer? A. \es. 



Q. Did you ask him for his authority ? A. Yes. 



.Q. And did he show it? A. No. 



Q. And then you threw him overboard ? A. I told him he had to leare, ai 

 would not go, I seized him by the nape of the neck and his breeches and put him u 

 boat. 



There is an express distinction made in his statements. 



Mr. FOSTER. You want to read only what you please of the win 

 story. Read on. 



Mr. THOMSON. If Mr. Foster seriously thinks that I am wrong 

 that this man refused to pay the light-money, I will do so. 

 distinctly came to collect the light-money ; and this man put I 



