224 



* a treasure which cannot be estimated too high, since with little 

 ** labour, comparatively speaking, enough could be obtained to feed 

 &amp;lt; all Europe.&quot; pp. 312-313. 



&quot; Since the trade with the United States has been so greatly ob- 

 * structed, the produce of the fisheries in the British-colonies, thus 

 encouraged by the removal of all competition, has been greatly 

 &quot; augmented ; and nothing but a more extended population is re- 

 &quot; quired to carry this valuable branch of trade almost to any given 

 * extent. 



&quot; It will be seen by a reference to the notes in the table annex- 

 &quot; ed to this chapter, that the inhabitants of the United States derive 

 * incalculable advantages, and employ a vast number of men and 

 &quot; vessels in the fishery in the river St. Lawrence, and on the coast 

 &quot; of Nova Scotia, which exclusively belong to Great Britain. The 

 &quot; dense population of the Northern States, and their local situation 

 &quot; in the vicinity of the most prolific fishing stations, have enabled 

 &quot; them to acquire vast wealth by the indulgence of this country. * 

 p. 313. 



&quot; It ought ever to be kept in view, that (with the exception of the 

 &quot; small islands of St. Pierre and Miguelon, restored to France by. 

 &quot; the treaty of Paris, in May, 1814,) the whole of the most valua- 

 &quot; ble fisheries in North America exclusively belong at this present 

 &amp;lt;l time to the British crown, which gives to this country a monopoly 

 &quot; in all the markets in Europe and the West Indies, or a right to a 

 &quot; certain valuable consideration from all foreign nations, to whom 

 &quot; the British government may concede the privilege of carrying on 

 &quot; a fishery in these seas.&quot; p. 314. 



&quot; { Private fisheries are a source of great profit to the individuals, 

 &quot; in this and other countries, who have acquired a right to such 

 t4 fisheries. Why, therefore, should not the united kingdom de- 

 &quot; rive a similar advantage from the fisheries it possesses within the 

 &quot; range of its extessive territories in North America, (perhaps the 

 l &amp;lt; richest and most prolific in the world,) by declaring every ship 

 44 and vessel liable to confiscation which should presume to fish in 

 &quot; those seas without previously paying a tonnage duty, and receiv- 

 * ing a license limited to a certain period when fish may be caught, 

 &quot; with the privilege of curing such fish in the British/territories ? 

 * All nations to have an equal claim to such licenses, limited to cer- 

 ** tain stations, but to permit none to supply the British West-In- 

 : dies, except his majesty s subjects, whether resident in the colo- 

 &quot; nies or in the parent state.&quot; p. 315. 



(E.) St. John s or Prince Edward s Island. 



&quot; Fisheries. This island is of the highest importance to the 



&quot; united kingdom. Whether the possession of it be considered with 

 &quot; relation to the Americans, or as an acquisition of a great maritime 

 power, it is worthy of the most particular attention of govern- 

 fc * ment. Mr. Stewart has justly remarked, in his account of thaf 



island, (page 296,) that the fishery carried on, from the Ame 



