MICHEL GAGNON., recalled.
By Lord Mersey:
5667. Now, have you succeeded?
- Yes, sir, as good as I can see.
5068. What?
- As good as I can do it, sir.
5669. What does that mean?
- It means as good as I can do it.
5670. Have you some doubt about it?
- No, no doubt.
By Mr. Newcombe:
5671. Have you marked the location of the wreck upon these two charts?
- Yes, sir.
5672. Mr. Haight: Put a letter right beside his mark so that we will know where it is.
Mr. Newcombe:
Put an ‘E.’
Mr. Haight:
Put 'W’ for wreck.
Mr. Newcombe:
I suggested ‘E’ because it stands for Empress.
Mr. Haight:
We have an 'E’ already.
Lord Mersey:
What is this gentleman’s name?
Mr. Haight:
Gagnon.
Lord Mersey:
Put a 'G’ (Letter ‘G’ placed beside Captain Gagnon's mark.)
By Mr. Newcombe:
5673. The circle with the dots in it and with the letter ‘G’ marks the place of the wreck on the chart 'C’?
- Yes.
5671. And likewise on chart ‘E'?
- (No answer).
Lord Mersey:
How many charts are there; there seem to be three now.
Mr. Haight:
We have two circles and dots now.
Mr. Newcombe:
We will put a 'G’ on this one too. This is the one he marked originally.
Lord Mersey:
Now there is a third chart?
Mr. Newcombe:
The third chart is the first and only chart which was produced showing the original location.
Lord Mersey:
That was the chart which this gentleman brought with him.
Mr. Newcombe:
Yes, it is an Admiralty chart and the trouble is that the other two charts are American charts and they do not correspond. He has made this location by cross-bearings and sextant angles and the points used on the shore for this purpose do not appear on the American charts; therefore, unless you have the Admiralty chart to refer to, you cannot see what the captain has done.
Chief Justice McLeod:
Our evidence hitherto has been directed entirely to these two charts.
Mr. Newcombe:
If you do not want the Admiralty chart, well and good, but this is the chart according to which he took his bearings. He did not know at the time what we were doing up here when he laid this out and his instructions were to lay it out upon an Admiralty chart and not upon an American chart.
Lord Mersey:
Who instructed him?
Mr. Newcombe:
The Department of Marine and Fisheries, my Lord.
Lord Mersey:
Why didn’t they instruct him in the charts that we had been using?
Mr. Newcombe:
This was done some time ago, my Lord, and I don’t think it was known at that time what charts would be used here.
5675. When were these bearings taken, Captain Gagnon?
- Two weeks ago last Sunday.
By Lord Mersey:
5676. You mean they were taken a fortnight ago?
- Yes, my Lord.
Mr. Newcombe:
You see, my Lord, I couldn’t tell.
Lord Mersey:
No, quite right, but I am not going to look at these things at present. Do you want to look at them, Mr. Aspinall?
Mr. Aspinall:
No, my Lord.
Lord Mersey:
Do you want to ask any questions about them, Mr. Haight?
Mr. Haight:
No, my Lord.
Lord Mersey:
Then let the chart be marked.
(The chart is marked as Exhibit E).
Mr. Haight:
If your lordship will pardon me, I would like to ask one question.
5677. Captain Gagnon, were you using a magnetic compass in your calculations?
- Yes, sir.