AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1843 



" Kips," they catch a great many herring, as also at different place* 

 along the coast; but it does no,t appear by the returns. The United 

 States do not import a great many herring. There is no pretense for 

 saying that we make use of the United States market for our herring. 

 A number of witnesses have proved (I have not time to read their testi- 

 mony, but I state it as the fact) that the large market for salt herrings is 

 to be found in this Dominion, in the different cities and towns from St. 

 John to Toronto, and one witness stated that he had at Toronto met 

 American salt herrings coming over the border, and competing with 

 him in the market. And our herrings are also shipped to Sweden and 

 elsewhere. Therefore, the remark of Mr. Foster, though true in fact, 

 really has no bearing on the case. 



How was this evidence sought to be met ? It was sought to met by 

 Eliphalet French, who is a merchcnt living at Eastport, a man who, if I 

 recollect aright, had never been on the island of Grand Manau. lie 

 said he had knowledge of the fishery there, and he put his knowledge 

 against the personal knowledge of McLaughlin, Lord, and McLean, be- 

 cause, said he, the whole trade comes through Eastport. There happens 

 to be a division in the American camp on that point, for Pettes. who 

 was another witness brought to contradict the statements made by Brit- 

 ish witnesses regarding Grand Manau, swears that very tew herring go 

 to Eastport. Whether he told the truth or not I do not know and do not 

 care. They are not our witnesses, and it is not my business to reconcile 

 their statements. It is curious that when those people were brought to 

 contradict our evidence they could not agree. They not only undertook 

 to contradict the British witnesses, but they contradicted each other. 

 Then we had Wilford J. Fisher, who formerly lived at Grand Manan, 

 but afterwards became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and 

 now resides at Eastport. For eleven years back, for a number of years, 

 at all events, his foot had never been placed on Grand Manau ; he had 

 no personal knowledge as to what the fisheries were for the last eleven 

 or twelve years. Another witness was Pettes, who, after having stated 

 that he was largely engaged in the fishing business, it tamed out, 

 caught about two hundred dollars' worth of herring in a year, was a 

 boarding-house keeper in winter, and at other times ran a packet to St. 

 Andrews. This is the man who contradicted French as to the herring 

 trade with Eastport, and said none went there. And these are the men 

 brought up to contradict McLaughliu ! Asked if McLaughlin was an 

 honest and respectable man, they acknowledge that he was ; but Pettes, 

 having no personal knowledge, undertook to say that his judgment in 

 regard to the catch off the mainland and the islands was just as good a* 

 the judgments of those three men whose particular business it wus to 

 make themselves acquainted with it in every particular. 



I never heard more reckless swearing with great deference to the 

 other side in my life, except, indeed, the extraordinary affidavit*) may 

 perhaps have out-Heroded it. For living witnesses, I never heard much 

 more reckless swearing than was done by those gentlemen to contradict 

 those whom they were obliged to admit were honest men, and whom 

 they ought to have admitted possessed better means of knowledge. 

 This is all I have to say on this point, except this : one of the witnesses, 

 I believe Pettes, absolutely said he had never heard of the American 

 fleet coming down there for herring. 



Mr. FOSTER. I think not. 



Mr. THOMSON. Then it was one of the others. 



Mr. FOSTER. I think not. f 



Mr. THOMSON. It is not very important, except for the parpoi 



