300 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., PRIOR TO TREATY OP 1818 



(men on board His Majesty's ship Leander, Bermuda, the 12th 

 day of May, 1817. 



David Milne, Rear Admiral. 



To Captain Samuel Chambers, of His Majesty's ship Dee. 

 By command of the Rear Admiral 



J. P. Lamey. 



[Inclosure No. 2.] 



Captain Samuel Chambers, of His Britannic Majesty's ship Dee, to 

 Rear Admiral Sir David Milne, dated 



His Majesty's Ship Dee, 

 Off Shelburne, June 8, 1817. 



Sir: In compliance with your order of the 12th ultimo, I sailed 

 from Halifax on the 30th ultimo, but did not meet or receive any in- 

 telligence of foreign fishing vessels being within our jurisdiction 

 until the 3d instant; when, being off the Isle Maten, I was informed 

 that the whole of the banks to the westward (off Cape Sable and Shel- 

 burne) were fished by American schooners; and that they continually 

 resorted to the creeks on this coast in order to catch their bait, clean 

 (heir fish, wood, water, &c. ; this, of course, is highly detrimental to 

 the interest of the industrious fishermen on this coast. I was also 

 informed that the intricate harbors of Cape Negro and Ragged island 

 were their resort most evenings, several going in ; but more particu- 

 larly on Saturdays, when they remain till Monday, to procure bait 

 for the ensuing week. At the former place they had not been well 

 received ; at the latter, I suspect, much encouragement had been given 

 them by an individual. I intended having our boats into Ragged 

 island harbor before daylight on the 4th, but light winds prevented 

 our getting that length. I, therefore, in the course of the day, put 

 into Shelburne; and, in the evening, despatched the boats, under the 

 charge of Lieutenant Hooper, into Ragged island, with the order I 

 enclose; the weather preventing any boats returning until the 7th, 

 Avhen I received information that nine American vessels had been 

 found at Ragged island harbor, lying with their nets set. Lieutenant 

 Hooper remained at this place, and despatched Lieutenant Lechenere, 

 with a gig and cutter, to Cape Negro, with the enclosed order. He 

 found two American fishing vessels in the harbor, and seven others 

 came in in the course of Saturday. The whole joined me this day 

 with two others that came into Ragged island. I have, therefore, in 

 obedience to your directions, sent them into Halifax for adjudication ; 

 as any distress they may plead might, with more ease, be relieved at 

 (he regular harbor of Shelburne, which has been avoided for two 

 intricate harbors in its immediate neighborhood. 



I beg further to state, that, without the use of our harbors, it 

 appears impossible for any foreigners to carry on successful fishing 

 on this coast, which fishing has much injured our fishermen; and I 

 have every reason to believe that considerable smuggling of tobacco, 

 shoe-, &c. is carried on by their boats. I beg leave to enclose a list 

 of the detained vessels, and also to inform you that, from some of the 

 Americans attempting to tamper with some of our boats' crews, and 



