1852 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



contain an explanation of how they were made up, only you do not 

 happen to read them. Just read them. 

 Mr. THOMSON. This question is put to Major Low by Mr. Dana. 



Q. In order that the Commission may understand whether these Gloucester merchants, 

 when making these statements here, are guessing at what they say, or have absolute data to 

 go upon, and know what they are about, you have, at our request, made an examination of 

 the books of one of the firms? A. I have examined the books of the most successful firm 

 engaged in the bay mackerel fishery. 



Q. That is the firm of Mr. Steele ? A. Yes. I did this of my own accord, because I 

 wanted the Commission to see how these books are kept. 



Q. Will you produce these books ? A. I have the trip-book, which I have numbered one, 

 for the years since 1858 and 1859 ; their previous books were burned in the great fire at 

 Gloucester in 18(54. I have the trip-books for the years extending from 1858 to 1876 inclusive 

 19 years. 



Mr. FOSTER. Go back to what you were upon. 

 Mr. THOMSON. It is as follows : 



Q. You do not, I suppose, include in this statement any but vessels ; it has nothing to do 

 with boat-fishing? A. No. 



Q. Will you state from what source you have made 'up these statistics ? A. The informa- 

 tion concerning the vessels which fished in the gulf, and those which fished off our shore, I 

 obtained and tabulated for the information of Gloucester, when I was town clerk, in 1869, 

 and the report for 1875 was procured for centennial purposes not by myself, but by some 

 one who did his work well. 



Q. Can you say, as a matter of belief, that these statistics were made up for Centennial 

 purposes, and not with reference to this tribunal ? A. Yes ; I believe that is the case. 



Q. From what sources were those for 1875, for instance, taken? A. The catch was taken 

 from the reports of the number of firms I mentioned. 



Q. To how many firms do you refer ? A. These include the most successful firms, George 

 Steele, &c. 



Q. Those are firms that had been the most successful, whether on our shore or in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence, which are to be considered the most successful firms in Gloucester ? A. 

 George Steele, Leighton & Co., Dennis & Ayer, and Smith & Gott. 



Q. These are generally considered to be the most successful firms ? A. Yes. 



Q. Were they all included in this return ? A. Yes. 



Q. The tonnage of the vessels was somewhat larger in 1875 than it was in 1869 ? A. I 

 think not. I think it was about the same. 



What does that amount to ? That he made up the statement for 1869 

 for the Centennial, and the other for some other purpose ; but he brings 

 them both for the purpose, as I charge upon him, of deceiving this Com- 

 mission. 



Mr. TBESCOT. He tells you what they are. 



Mr. THOMSON. I say again that when a witness puts in evidence state- 

 ments such as these because there was no object in showing what the 

 catches were 1869 and 1875, unless it was intended as a fair specimen of 

 the average years and has the information in his own breast by which 

 directly opposite results would be shown a witness who comes here 

 and makes such a statement does so deliberately to deceive the Com- 

 mission. 



Your honors will recollect that nothing but the trip-books were pro- 

 juoed ; though we gave notice to produce the other books they did not 

 do so. Look at page 385 and see what Major Low says on this subject, 

 then say whether he is a gentleman whose testimony can be de- 

 pended on. At page 385, towards the bottom, there is the following: 



n' TI th I"" 1 plaCe> '" Geor e Steele a charterer of vessels ? A. No. 

 ^. J hen UIIH statement, which assumes to relate to George Steele's business, as his name 

 Motioned M the charterer of the vessel, does not represent an existing state of facts, but 

 rely a theory which you put forth ?-A. I supposed I had mentioned on the account 

 that it was an estimate. 



At pages 368 and 369 of Major Low's evidence, a statement is handed 



' Number of vessels engaged during 17 years, from 1858 to 



18,6 inclusive, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence mackerel fishery, excepting 



