Pratte in the employ of the government at Riviere du Loup as express agent? If so, since when, and what is his salary?

Hon. G. P. GRAHAM (Minister of Railways and Canals).

Mr. Pratte, who has been stationmaster at RiviSre du Loup since 1878, is also agent for the Canadian Express Company, and is paid by the company for that work.

HUGHES-by Mr. Sproule- asked :

1. Have fishing licenses been granted at Nanaimo, or other British Columbia points to Japanese fishermen?

2. How many Canadian fishermen of the Caucasian race of British stock were refused licenses at the same time?

3. Was the reason the British fishermen were refused licenses because the Japanese had been there a longer period?

1. Is the government aware that certain Japanese become Canadian subjects, and upon concluding their business in Canada return home Japanese subjects?

1. Fishing licenses are granted only to British subjects.

2. None.

3. Answered by No. 2.

4. No.

1. To whom belongs the right to control the fisheries and grant fishing rights or licenses, to fish in the Matane river, the provincial or federal authorities ?

2. Have the riparian owners the right to catch and take fish at any time except during the close season?

3. How many, and to whom, have licenses been granted to fish in this river since 1895?

i. What are the terms of said licenses, the consideration paid for them, the length of time for which granted, and if renewable, for how long?

1. The federal authorities possess no proprietary rights of fishery in the Matane river. These rights belong to either the provincial government or the seigniors or riparian owners, and at present it is understood the latter are protesting against the exercise of the right to lease the fishery by the provincial government.

2. The riparian owners or whoever else may have the fishing right under lease, or otherwise, must comply with all the fishery regulations fixing times, places or methods of fishing, &c., which it is the exclusive function of the federal government to enact or provide for the regulation and protection of the fisheries.

3. None by the federal government.

4. Answered by No. 3.

INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY-SUPPLY OF . ICE.

1. At what points on the Intercolonial Railway has J. A. McDonald, of Piedmont, supplied ice during the season of 1907-8?

2. What price has he received for supplying each place, respectively?

3. What is the freight rate per ton from Piedmont to each point, respectively?

4. What price is paid for storing ice at each point?

5. What price was paid for storing ice at Truro in 190G-7, and to whom was it paid?

1. Truro, New Glasgow, Mulgrave, Point Tupper and Pictou.

2. Mr. McDonald's contract is for 39 cents per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered on cars at Piedmont.

3. Freight rate to Truro, $1.40 per ton of 2,000 pounds ; to New Glasgow, 80 cents

per ton; to Mulgrave, $1.40; to Point Tup-per, $1.40 ; and to Pictou, $1 carload rates.

4. At Truro, 17 cents per ton ; at New Glasgow, 58 cents ; at Mulgrave, 58 cents per ton ; at Point Tapper, 58 cents ; and at Pictou, 46 cents per ton.

5. $1.74 per ton of 2,000 pounds packed in icehouse. Little & Connolly, Truro.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

I would like to ask the right lion. Prime Minister (Sir Wilfrid Laurier) whether there is any further information as to when the treaty between Great Britain and the United States with respect to Canada -will be laid upon the table of the House.

These treaties have been received. We are in communication with the imperial authorities and as soon as we have received their assent they will be brought down.

Mr. E. GUSS PORTER (West Hastings).

I would like to inquire of the government once more-I think this is the fourth occasion that I have inquired about it-with regard to the return ordered on the 15tli January with reference to royal commissions appointed by this government since 1896, their cost and the legislation arising out of the reports of these commissions. It seems to me that a long enough time has elapsed to enable the government to make that return.

Sir WILFRID LAURIER.

I will see about it immediately.