1. How many claims were presented to the government by shippers ol fresh fish and other perishable goods, for compensation because of loss sustained through the irregular crossing of the winter steamers between Prince Edward Island and the mainland, in the spring of 1903 ?

2. What are the names of the claimants ?

3. What is the amount claimed by each ?

4. What was the amount allowed to each ?

5. Have the claims been paid ? And if not, why not ?

Hon. RAYMOND PREFONTAINE (Minister of Marine and Fisheries).

If the hon. gentleman would ask for a return, that would be more satisfactory to himself and the House. The correspondence is rather voluminous. An investigation was held, and there are many documents to file. There will be no delay whatever in getting the information.

1. Did the government last year or the year previous, cause a quantity of trees and shrubs to be planted on Sable Island ?

2. If so, how many w^re planted ?

3. What varieties did they consist of ?

4. Has the government any recent report of the success of the tree-planting experiments on Sable Island ?

1. Yes. In May, 1901, trees were planted.

2. Edghty-two thousand.

3. The departmental report of 1901, page 26, contains the names of the varieties.

4. The last report received for the year 1903 from the superintendent of Sable Island, R. J. Boutilier, is not encouraging. The weather for the last two seasons has had a bad effect upon the young trees. The annual reports of the Department of Marine and Fisheries for the years 1901 and 1902 contain information on the subject.

1. Have fishing rights in Hudson's Bay, or waters adjacent thereto, been granted this year to the British American Fish Company, or other parties ? If so, to whom ?

2. What are the waters covered by the concession ?

3. What is the annual rental to be paid ?

4. What is the duration of the lease ?

5. Were tenders invited for the fishing privileges covered by the lease in question ?

Hon. RAYMOND PREFONTAINE (Minister of Marine and Fisheries).

I would like my hon. friend to move for a return. The answer to the question would involve reading all the documents connected with those licenses, which are very voluminous. There is no objection to filing the document as soon as the motion is passed.

1. Has the government under consideration a proposal for the inauguration of a direct steamship service between Canada and Mexico .

2. Has the government reached any conclusion on the subject, and does it expect to announce any policy during the present session ?

3. From what Canadian ports will the proposed service be available ?

4. When is it expected that the proposed service will begin ?

Yes, the government has under consideration a proposal for the inauguration of a direct steamship service between Canada and Mexico. The government has reached the conclusion that such a service would be eminently useful if possible to obtain it on fair terms. The details are not yet settled. We expect a representative from the government of Mexico this session and then will make an announcement to the House.

1. Have the cheques for fishing bounties been delivered to the persons entitled thereto in respect to the past year ?

2. If not, how many still remain undelivered ?

3. What is the cause of the delay ?

4. Is the government aware that the delay in the delivery of the cheques has,caused a great deal of inconvenience in certain districts in the maritime provinces ?

1. A portion has not yet been sent out for distribution.

2. Those for the counties of Yarmouth. Inverness and King's, in the province of Nova Scotia ; Prince county, Prince Edward island ; the Magdalen Islands and part of the county of Saguenay, P. Q.

3. When the work was at a stage to permit of proceeding with distribution, the department was without any room accommodation for the large extra staff required, and was waiting from day to day for the rooms to be vacated by the Department of the Northwest Mounted Police.

4. No.