264 COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE. 



much useful information in relation to our important and growing 

 commerce there, I would thank you to inform me, in writing, how 

 far your own views extend in corroboration of the report I am 

 about to submit to the consideration of the committee. 



" Be pleased to accept the assurance of the high consideration 

 with which I am, sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



"J.N.REYNOLDS. 



K To Captain THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES, 

 " United States Navy." 



"WASHINGTON, February 28, 1828. 



" DEAR SIR : I have received and read, with great satisfaction, the memorial which 

 you did me the honour to submit for my perusal. My recent cruise to the Pacific ocean, 

 in the course of which I spent some time among the Society, Sandwich, and other 

 islands, afforded me a good opportunity of seeing, in partial operation, most of the 

 branches of commerce, the advantages of which you so clearly demonstrate in your 

 address to the committee on naval affairs. 



"That there is a great field open for national enterprise hi the region to which you 

 have invited the attention of the American people, cannot be doubted ; and I accord 

 most heartily with you that such a voyage as you contemplate would open to our com- 

 mercial, and, of course, national interests sources of great wealth, which cannot be 

 brought into action without the protecting aid of government. 



" That success may crown your most laudable exertions, is the wish of, sir, 

 "Your obedient servant, 



" THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES. 



" To J. N. REYNOLDS, Esq." 



The committee, having thus fully presented the views and wishes of the memo- 

 rialists, and noted the legislative action hithert9 had upon the subject, deem it un- 

 necessary to go into any prolonged arguments, in the conclusion of their report. 



Other nations have deemed it wise to protect their fisheries, at all hazards, and by 

 heavy expenditures. Some have sent out voyages of discovery, that had little or no 

 commerce to be benefited. Previous to the year 1770, the English, in their strenuous 

 efforts to compete with the Dutch in the Northern whale-fishery, had paid, in boun- 

 ties, not less than three millions of dollars ; and down to the year 1786, the aggre- 

 gate amount of bounty paid was not less than six millions three hundred and thirty 

 thousand dollars. 



The American fishermen have received no bounty, and they are now pursuing their 

 avocation in seas beyond the reach of ordinary protection. That places of refresh- 

 ment may be examined, new channels of trade opened, and dangers pointed out, 

 seems not only reasonable and just, but called for by considerations of public inter- 

 est; and it is believed that this can be best accomplished by sending out small 

 vessels expressly provided for this duty; while the demand on the public treasury 

 will be small, compared with the good which may be accomplished. 



In like manner, in addition to the specific objects to be attained by an expedition, many 

 collateral advantages may be secured to the whaler and trafficker in the Pacific, and 

 the sealer in the higher latitudes south. 



While your committee, in coming to their conclusion in favour of recommending an 

 expedition such as has been prayed for by the memorialists, have been influenced solely 

 by commercial views, and place the policy of the measure solely on these grounds, they 

 are not indifferent to the valuable fund of knowledge which may be gathered during the 

 voyage, and which, properly analyzed and written out, may be interesting, not only to 

 the American people, but to the whole civilized world. 



Your committee therefore report a bill. 



