48 The Frederick Gerring, Jr. 



Q. Look at those papers and say what they are? A. These 

 are the papers that he gave me. (Marked J. Mc. D. a.) 



Q. Give me as near as you can the hour that you made the 

 seizure. A. I think it was about half-past six. It was between 

 half-past six and seven in the evening. 



Q. At the time of the seizure was the cruiser Vigilant in 

 sight? A. She was. 



Q. How far away was she? A. I judge that she was a mile 

 or a mile and a half away. 



Q. What was she doing? A. She was standing off shore. I 

 am not positive that she had steering way on, though I think she 

 had. There was a very light draft of wind at the time. 



Q. At the time of the seizure can you tell us how the tide 

 was ? A. It was rising. I think it was somewhere about half tide. 



Q. You say that there was very little wind? A. Yes very 

 little. 



Q. What was the direction of the wind? A. I think it was 

 E. to E. S. E. 



Q. How had it been in the afternoon? A. I think it was 

 more southerly during the day, but I am not positive. 



Q. How long had it been E. S. E. ? A. Eor an hour before 

 that, if there was any wind I don't know that you can tell where it 

 was. Under steam you get a draft ahead even when the wind is 

 very light, so I can hardly say how it was. 



Q. Have you had much experience on the coast of Nova 

 Scotia in that vicinity? A. I have had experience for the last ten 

 years. 



O. I want you to tell me your judgment as to the trend of 

 the current at that time ; that is to say, a vessel lying off that coast, 

 where this vessel was, assuming that she had been lying there for 

 some hours, which way would the tide or current or wind or what- 

 ever it was take her? A. It would be apt to send her to the west- 

 ward slightly. 



Q. W^ould that take her nearer to the shore or further away 

 from it? A. It would take her nearer the shore; if she set east 

 of that it would drift her towards the ledge. 



Q. You say, assuming this vessel had set east of the ledge, or 

 where you found her, the current would drift her towards the 

 ledge ? A. Yes. That is, unless she was on a parallel line outside 

 of it. 



