Mr. LALOR.

It is somewhat novel to find large vessels of this kind loading coal with baskets. I have seen a good many boats of various kinds, but I have yet to see a boat that you could not load by some other means than by carrying with baskets, and I would like to ask the minister to explain it.

f Mr. PREFONTAINE. If the hon. gen-'tleman will allow me-he is under a completely wrong impression. We do not load these boats with coal ; they are not colliers, we load the bunkers.

Mr. F. R. LALOR.

On the 13th February I asked concerning the purchase of certain supplies for the Department of Marine and Fisheries. I also, on February 20th, inquired concerning orders given in the department without public tender.

Mr. LALOR.

I am glad to hear the minister make that statement, and I hope the government will increase the number of their dredges so as to dispense entirely with the necessity of engaging the dredges of private contractors by the hour. In my experience, and I have seen them at work, the government is being imposed upon by private contractors, and are losing a great deal of money.

Mr. LALOR.

I understand that the question asked by the hon. member for Jacques Cartier (Mr. Monk) was whether the list would be brought down.

Mr. LALOR.

I understood the minister to say that he found a list in the department, and had since added names to it.