1824 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



two hundred and fifty ($250) dollars with two sureties, to be approved by such collector, 

 conditioned that in case of the condemnation of the articles so claimed, the obligors shall 

 pay all the costs and expenses of the proceedings to obtain such condemnation. 



And article 800 says : 



But if no such claim shall be filed nor bond given within the time specified, such collector 

 shall give not less than fifteen days' notice of sale of the property so seized by publication 

 in the manner before mentioned, and at the time and place specified in such notice he shall 

 sell at public auction the property so seized, but may adjourn such sale from time to time for 

 a period not exceeding thirty days in all. 



Now, I think that I have conclusively shown for the benefit of my 

 learned friends opposite that had they looked at the "inhospitable laws" 

 of their own country, they would have hesitated before making the attack 

 which has been directed against ours. I said last night that it would be 

 my duty to point out to you some extraordinary discrepancies which are 

 to" be found between the two sets of affidavits which have been filed by 

 the United States ; and the pledge which I then gave I shall now pro- 

 ceed to redeem. I shall be glad indeed I say it in all sincerity if my 

 learned friends opposite can, as I am pointing out these discrepancies, 

 get up and say that I am mistaken, and show me how they can be recon- 

 ciled, for I am desirous of not making one single statement which is not 

 borne out by the facts. If, therefore, the learned Agent of the United- 

 States, or either of the learned counsel who are associated with him, 

 can say that I am wrong before I get through, I shall be quite willing ta 

 permit them to interrupt me and point out my error. I will then at once 

 withdraw my statements, and apologize, if necessary, for having made 

 them ; but at present I cannot see how they can be explained at all. 



In order that I may be understood on this point, I think that it would 

 be advisable that your excellency and your honors should have before 

 you the two statements, Appendix M and appendix O. Appendix M 

 contains the set of affidavits which was first filed by the United States, 

 and Appendix O contains the later body of affidavits which they filed 

 in this case. 



Now, in Appendix O, you will find toward the middle of the book 

 a set of statements which purport to have been taken from the books of 

 Gloucester firms ; they were produced by Mr. Babsou, and filed by Mr. 

 Foster, on October 24, 1877. 



Now, I take the finished statement made by David Low and Com- 

 pany, and this David Low is the Major Low who made such a pleasant 

 figure before the Commission. 



Mr. FOSTER. He is an entirely different person, Mr. Thomson. 



Mr. THOMSON. Are you sure about that ? I think not. 



Now, if you look at page 110, Appendix M, you will find affidavit, 

 No. 70, made by the firm of David Low & Company. They state that 

 the number of trips made to the Bay of St. Lawrence in 1872 was five, 

 and that the number of barrels of mackerel taken was 1,250. In 1873 

 they say that there were five trips made, and that the number of bar- 

 rels of mackerel caught was 750. In 1874 they swear that two trips 

 were made, and that 440 bnrrels were taken. In 1875 they say only one 

 trip was made, and 200 barrels caught, while in 1870 no trip was made 

 at all. 



Now, let mo turn your attention to the statements filed concerning 

 the years 1872, 187:*, and 1874 for this firm in the second set of affidavits 

 contained in Appendix O. AVhat do they here say for 1872? David 

 Low and Company have been pleased to declare here that in 1872 they 

 had 3 vessels in the bay, and took 460 barrels of mackerel. In 1873 they 

 had 8 vessels, which took 1,944 barrels. In 1874, 4 vessels, which took 



