AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 2521 



Q. With your means of obtaining information, do you still presume 

 to put your opinion against his ? A. I do ; I don't depart from it one 

 particle. 



Q. Although it was Mr. McLaughlin's business to obtain a return of 

 the catch ? A. I have given a great deal of thought and care to it for 

 years. 



Q. Then I understand you to say that the catch amounts to $400,000 

 in round numbers, including the American catch and every catch all 

 round the island ? A. Yes. 



Q. Then Mr. McLaughlin has told an untruth deliberately, or those 

 people lied to him when they said they caught $383,891 in value, and in 

 round numbers $400,000; do you think the people have deliberately de 

 ceived Mr. McLaughlin ? A. I don't say so ; Mr. McLaughlin may have 

 deceived himself; I don't say whether he has been deceived or the peo- 

 ple have been deceived. 



Q. He got those figures from statements of the people themselves. 

 A. I gave mine from my own judgment, and I know of no reason to alter 

 them. 



Q. Is it probable, in your judgment, that the people of the island de- 

 ceived Mr. McLaughliu as to their catch ? A. I don't know. 



Q. Is it probable ! A. I don't know what the people and Mr. Mc- 

 Laughlin may do together. 



Q. Do you think it is probable? A. Mr. McLaughlin, until a few 

 years ago, had lived on Gannet Eock, which is a long way from the 

 mainland, and was not connected with the fisheries. 



Q. Mr. McLaughlin has stated that he went from house to house and 

 asked each man as to his catch ? A. That may be. 



Q. You know Grand Manan ; do you believe the people would delib- 

 erately deceive Mr. McLaughliu, and make believe that they caught 

 more fish than they actually did ? A. I don't know ; I cannot answer 

 that question ; 1 don't know what the people of Grand Manau told Mr. 

 McLanghlin. 



Q. You cannot form any opinion as to whether the people would de- 

 ceive him or not? A. I don't wish to form any opinion, because I do 

 not think it is necessary. I don't wish to form one without due consid- 

 eration, and unless I know with whom he talked. I don't propose to 

 have anything to do with Mr. McLaughlin's talk with the inhabitants. 



Q. Do you admit that, if Mr. McLaughlin tells the truth, when he 

 says that he went from house to house and made inquiries of each fish- 

 erman, he has better means of information than you ? A. I won't admit 

 that. I know Mr. McLaughlin well, and I won't admit it. 



Q. Do you intend the Commission to understand that Mr. McLaugh- 

 lin is a man not to be relied on? A. I don't wish to state anything of 

 that kind. I have made my statement, Mr. McLaughliu has made his, 

 and the Commission may choose between the two. 



Q. You have sworn that you believe him to be a credible man ? A. 

 Yes; as we speak of men, I have nothing to say against Mr. McLaugh- 

 lin. He has lived in Grand Maiian; I know him; and he has lived on 

 Gannet Eock for a long time. 



Q. Would his living on Gannet Eock alter his moral character? A. 

 Not a particle, but it deprives him of seeing the extent of the fishing 

 at Grand Manan. 



Q. That may be. Does it deprive him of the opportunity of going 

 round and asking the different people what they caught? A. No; he 

 can go round. 



Q. Do you believe the inhabitants would misinform him by telling 



