PERIOD FEOM 1871 TO 1905. 925 



alleged refusal of the collector of customs at Port Mulgrave, Nova 

 Scotia, to allow the master of the Mollie Adams to purchase barrels 

 to hold a supply of water for which the vessel had put into port. 

 The report of the subcollector of customs at Port Mulgrave, which is 

 hereto annexed, and which he expresses his readiness to verify upon 

 oath, shows that the Mollie Adams was fitted out with a water-tank 

 which was reported as leaking, that the collector offered to borrow 

 barrels for carrying the water on board if the tank were made tight, 

 and even offered to send a man on board to perform this work; that 

 while the captain of the schooner and he were in conversation one of 

 the crew brought the information that the cook had succeeded in 

 calking the tank. 



That thereupon the subcollector borrowed the seven barrels, with 

 which the crew supplied \vater for their vessel ; that the barrels were 

 returned to the collector, and the captain appeared well pleased with 

 what had been done. The good w r ill of the subcollector is also shown 

 in his giving the men a letter to his superior officer, in explanation of 

 the circumstances, and recommended that the purchase of barrels be 

 allowed, a step which was rendered unnecessary by the arrangements 

 later made. 



The subcollector in answer to his inquiry as to what had become of 

 the water barrels in use on board the vessel was informed that they 

 had been filled with mackerel. This answer goes to prove that Mr. 

 Murray was acting strictly within the scope of his duty in ascertain- 

 ing that the barrels sought to be purchased were not to be used for an 

 illicit purpose. 



The colonial secretary's dispatch of the 16th December, 1886, refers 

 to the same schooner, the Mollie Adams, and her alledged treatment 

 at Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, and Port Medway, Nova Scotia. 



In this case Mr. Bayard's representations are based solely upon a 

 letter written to him by the captain of the vessel under date the 12th 

 November, which is unsupported by any other evidence, and upon the 

 strength of which Mr. Bayard proceeds to charge the Canadian 

 authorities with " churlish and inhospitable treatment," and with 

 exhibiting a coldness and rudeness of conduct at variance with the 

 hospitable feelings of common humanity. 



The minister of marine and fisheries submits, as a complete reply to 

 the allegations contained in Captain Jacob's letter (1) The state- 

 ment of the collector of customs at Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, 

 (2) the statement of Captain McLaren, of the Canadian cruiser 

 Critic, and (3) the report of the collector of customs at Port Medway. 



The two former officers, although giving their reports without con- 

 cert, agree upon the main points at issue, and the statements of all 

 three are clear, straightforward, and reasonable, and in marked 

 contrast to the sensational and improbable story related by Captain 

 Jacobs. 



Captain Jacobs declares that on or about the 26th September last, 

 during very heavy weather, he fell in with the bark Neskilita, which 

 had run on a bar at Malpeque Harbor and become a total wreck. 

 That he took off the crew, seventeen in number, at 12 o'clock at night, 

 carried them to his own vessel, fed them for three days, and then gave 

 them $60 with which to pay their fare home, and provisions to last 

 them on their way. He states that the captain of the Canadian 

 cruiser Critic came on board, was told the circumstances, but offered 



