29 



Mr. Thoms. — When you were good enough to invite the representative of the 

 Beaver Line to be present we felt it was a good opportunity to meet the fruit 

 growers of the Dominion, and I am here to-night. Mr. Watts seems to have covered 

 the steamship ground pretty thoroughly, and before going into anything further in 

 that direction I desire to thank Mr. Allan for the kindly way he spoke of the Beaver 

 Line. I have no bones to pick with him ; anyway, not just now. It had been 

 mentioned before that the handling of fruit at Montreal did not compare favourably 

 with New York. JSTow, I have had considerable experience in New York as a 

 steamship man, and I have no hesitation in saying that I consider the handling of 

 fruit in Montreal is equal if not better than at any other port along the Atlantic 

 coast. I think every care is given to it. I am satisfied that steamship men ai'e 

 only too glad to bring all the fruit by way of Montreal and not allow it to go to New 

 York. They take special care in the handling. I think my friend Mr. Allan felt, a 

 couple of years ago, that there was no place like New York, and he ventilated his 

 ideas pretty freely. It was then I first took up the subject and introduced fans into 

 our boats. As regards claims, we have not had a single claim for apples. The 

 question was asked and that is the answer. Mr. Watt stated that apples were 

 received and a receipt given on the actual count of the packages. The railway 

 companies put in " shipper's count," but we pay no attention to that when once they 

 reach us. You say that ventilated cars will be provided, and I am satisfied that the 

 steamship companies from Montreal can carry the fruit forward in as good condition 

 as it can possibly be taken across the Atlantic. It has been suggested to me that I 

 should mention that the St. Lawrence route would compare favorably from the fact 

 that we have several days after the steamer leaves Montreal before you are at sea, 

 whereas you are at sea in an hour or two after leaving New York and Boston. 

 With reference to apples, the rate being higher than on other cargoes, I think the 

 rate on apples, considering that they take the same space, is just as low and 

 just as cheap other cargoes. There is one point I would like to call the attention 

 of shippers to. They do not realize the necessity of advising the steamship agent 

 when shipments are made. A man will ship five oars, and the first intimation that 

 the steamship company has is that there are so many barrels of apples for us at the 

 Canadian Pacific or the Grand Trunk yards. They cannot expect that the fruit can 

 be attended to in a hurry unless they give us some advice. If the steamship com- 

 panies had advice by wire or by postal card that they had shipped the goods it 

 enables the steamship companies to trace these cars, and the railway companies are 

 only too anxious to assist us in getting these cars forward. In many oases they 

 have gone to a great deal of trouble to get them forward in time for our steamers. 

 I have no doubt the railway companies will do all they can to get these cars forwai'd. 

 We have every desire to get them away, to keep up our reputation on the St. 

 Lawrence as against any other port. Eegarding the statement of Mr. Allan about 

 the tiering of apples, I might say that apples are in no case stowed in the lower 

 hold of the steamer. The decks are 6 ft. 6 in., Y ft. 2 in., and I think the Lake 

 Ontario is 8 ft. 2 in. That is exceptionally high. It is not possible to get over four 

 tiers in, and I don't think four tiers too much. They are never stowed in the lower 

 holds. You cannot possibly get more than four on the decks. I don't know that I 

 have anything more to say, but to thank the fruit gi'owers for having suggested to 

 the steamship peopjo better modes of carrying forward their fruit. I am sure we 

 will only be too glad to carry out their suggestions as far as we can. I thank you 

 for the opportunity of being present. 



Mr. Allan. — I may mention one point. When the agitation was got up some 

 years ago for shipping by New York, I believe there was quite a large amount 

 going by New York. The New York railways were exceedingly good to us, and 

 forwarded everything with a view to drawing traffic. Since then we have noticed 

 that the handling at Montreal has greatly improved. That fact shows just what 

 agitation has done. We have done it by agitation. We want this agitation to bring 

 us some gain. 



Mr. McMillan. — There is another thing which ought to receive attention here. 

 I find in the western part of Ontario, in a locality that has no railway competition, 



