860 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



[Inclosure No. 1.] 



Mr. Presson to Mr. Bayard. 



GLOUCESTER, MASS., 

 Collector's Office, November 5, 1886. 



SIR : I transmit herewith, by request, affidavits of Capt. Medeo Rose, 

 of schooner Laura Sayward, and Capt. Joseph Tupper, of schooner 

 Jeannie Seavems, in relation to their treatment by Canadian officials. 

 I am, &c., 



D. S. PRESSON, Collector. 



[Sub-inclosure 1.] 



Affidavit of Captain Rose, of the schooner Laura Sayward. 



I, Medeo Rose, master of schooner Laura Sayward, of Gloucester, 

 being duly sworn, do depose and say : That on Saturday, October 2d, 

 being then on Western Bank on a fishing trip, and being short of 

 provisions, we hove up our anchor and started for home. The wind 

 was blowing almost a gale from the northwest, and being almost 

 dead-ahead we made slow progress on our voyage home. On Tues- 

 day, October 5th, we made Shelburne, Nova Scotia, and arrived in 

 that harbor about 8 p. m. on that day, short of provisions, water, and 

 oil to burn. On Wednesday I sailed for the inner harbor of Shel- 

 burne. Arriving at the town about 4 p. m., on going ashore I found 

 the custom-house closed, and hunted up the collector and entered my 

 vessel, and asked permission from him to buy 7 pounds sugar, 3 

 pounds coffee, one-half to 1 bushel potatoes, and 2 pounds of butter, 

 or lard or pork, and oil enough to last us home, and was refused. I 

 stated to him my situation, short of provisions, and a voyage of 250 

 miles before me and plead with him for this slight privilege, but it 

 was of no avail. I then visited the American consul and asked his 

 assistance and found him powerless to aid me in this matter. The 

 collector of customs held my papers until the next morning, although 

 I asked for them as soon as I found I could not buy any provisions, 

 say about an hour and a half after I entered, but he refused to give 

 them to me until the next morning. Immediately on receiving my 



fapers on Thursday morning, I started for home, arriving on Sunday, 

 think the treatment I received harsh and cruel, driving myself and 

 crew to sea with a scant supply of provisions, we having but little 

 flour and water and liable to be buffeled about for days before reach- 

 ing home. 



MEDEO ROSE. 



MASSACHUSETTS, Essex, ss: 



OCTOBER 13, 1886. 



Personally appeared Medeo Rose, and made oath to the truth of 

 the above statement. 



Before me. 



[SEAL.] AARON PARSONS, N. P. 



