378 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



they received any water after dark, it was done as a pretext, for the 

 boat's crew were witnesses to the water I found on board when I first 

 boarded her; and that I threatened to confine the master to the deck 

 and lash a pump brake across his mouth, as stated in their protest, is 

 false. On my first boarding her, with only three men in our small 

 boat, they were very abusive to us, and one of them said, if they were 

 all of his mind, they would heave that fellow overboard, pointing to 

 me. I told him if he did not keep quiet I would lash him to the deck. 

 At 3 p. m., same day, 15th, I received information from the fishermen 

 at Gull Cove, as well as from the master and crew of the fishing 

 schooner Minerva, of Grand Menan, that an American schooner was 

 at anchor at Beat's Passage. I went out from Gull Cove and saw 

 her there ; at 9 o'clock in the evening I boarded her, which proved to 

 be the American fishing schooner Galeon, and found all the crew 

 asleep. On questioning the master the reason of his being there, he 

 told me that he came to throw the gurry, offal of the fish, overboard. 

 They not being in want of wood or water, and a fine fair wind for 

 them, I detained her, got her under way and ran for Gull Cove, a 

 direct course for their fishing ground. What the crew of the last men- 

 tioned vessel asserted in their protest is not true ; I never said that I 

 would release their vessel, but told them it was not in my power to do 

 it, as they had decidedly violated the treaty of convention between 

 England and the United States ; but as they pleaded poverty, saying 

 their vessel was their sole support, I told them I would recommend 

 their case to Captain Hoare, of the Dotterel, my commanding officer. 

 Both schooners, William and Galeon, I took to St. Andrew's the next 

 day. On the 25th of the same month I received information from 

 the master and crew of the fishing schooner Industry, of Grand 

 Menan, that several American fishing schooners were at anchor at 

 Two Island harbor, and that two of them, namely Reindeer and Ruby, 

 of Lubec, were at White Island harbor on the 24th, where they got 

 their wood and water, and that, on their anchoring there, they told 

 them and the inhabitants they were armed, and would not allow any 

 man-of-war's boat to board them ; and, after they had their supplies, 

 they shifted to Two Island harbor. At daylight, the 26th, observed 

 four schooners at anchor at Two Island harbor, which got under way 

 on our appearance. When I got close, three of them they lashed 

 alongside each other, and all hands, about thirty in number, went on 

 board the middle one with fire-arms and fish spears. I desired them 

 to separate, which they refused to do until I threatened to fire on 

 them. On boarding them, they proved to be the Reindeer, Ruby, 

 Friends, and Diligent, American fishing schooners. It being fine 

 weather, and they not in want of wood or water, I detained the Rein- 

 deer and Ruby, and, by the sanction of the masters of the Diligent 

 and Friends, I put the crews of the Reindeer and Ruby on board of 

 them, with as much provisions as they wished to take, and on our 

 passage to St. Andrew's the said schooners Reindeer and Ruby were 

 forcibly taken from me by armed vessels, under American colors, as 

 stated in my letter of the 27 of July last. 

 I have the honor to be, &c, &c, 



John Jones, 

 Master of his Majesty's sloop Dotterel. 



Richard Hoare, Commander. 



