15,900. Have you frequently heard the men told to go down?- Yes. The men sometimes blurt it out, and the agents' clerks are not very much satisfied at their doing so; but the whole thing is so well understood, that there is little concealment about it.
15,901. You have frequently heard conversations on the subject, showing that the men were expected to go down at once?-Yes; and some of the clerks had the audacity to attempt to deduct the amount at the office not later than last year.
15,902. Who were these? Are they mentioned in your report?- They are mentioned in my report to the Board of Trade.
15,903. Do you know whether one consequence of the new regulations has been, that the green hands engaged for the settling and whaling voyages are much fewer now than they were before 1867?-I am not aware of the fact. My attention has never been called to it.
15,904. Are you prepared to say that there are not fewer green hands engaged now than there were before 1867?-I cannot say as to that.
15,905. Your observation has not led you to think so?-No. The idea never occurred to me.
15,906. Have you had occasion to know whether the seamen have been told by the masters or the agents since 1868 to attend at the Shipping Office within the time required by law?-The special regulations, unfortunately, do not define any time within which they are to attend, and I have no doubt the agents know that fact.
15,907. The three days do not apply under these regulations?- That is a question that I should not like to give an opinion upon.
15,908. The clause about the three days is quoted in the last head of the regulations?-It is quoted there to show what the general law is.
15,909. But you have a doubt in your own mind as to whether it applies here?-I may at once say that these special regulations were a sort of compromise, and I am so far answerable for their being framed, thinking that they would secure the men their wages. My opinion now is, that it would have been better if the Act had been enforced as it originally stood; and I believe the thing will never be on a satisfactory footing as long as agents who are merchants continue to act as agents.