PERIOD FROM 1836 TO 1854. 443 



[Inclosure No. 1.] 



Consul Primrose to Sir Ruyert D. George. 



Consulate of the United States, 



Pictou, Nova Scotia, July 15, 1839. 



Sir : I most respectfully beg leave to bring under the notice of the 

 government the existing practice of collecting light-dues at the Strait 

 of Canso. 



American vessels bound to Pictou, have this season been frequently 

 fired at and brought to at that place, by an armed boat, and boarded 

 by an officer, armed with a cutlass and a brace of pistols, who has 

 enforced payment of light-dues. As but few of these vessels were 

 provided with funds, the masters have been subjected to great incon- 

 venience by being compelled, in many instances, to part with portions 

 of their cargoes or ship's stores, and to pursue other objectionable 

 courses to enable them to meet the demand, which I respectfully 

 submit might be collected here, where the consignees reside, with as 

 much safety to the revenue, and, as you will perceive by the enclosed 

 affidavits, with less danger to strangers, who are led to commit acts, 

 seriously affecting the safety of their vessels, through the misrepre- 

 sentation of an officer claiming to be clothed with authority. 



Will you do me the favor of informing me whether the collectors 

 of light-dues at the Strait of Canso act under the authority of the 

 government of this province, in levying that rate there on American 

 vessels not bound to any port or place within the same? 



The imposition of any tax by the province of Nova Scotia upon 

 American vessels engaged in the prosecution of the fisheries using 

 that passage in transitu, would appear to deprive it of the character 

 of constituting a portion of the high seas. 



With the greatest respect, I have the honor to be, sir, your most 

 obedient and humble servant. 



James Primrose. 



Consul, U. S. A. 



To the Honorable Sir Rupert D. George. 



Provincial Secretary, &c, Halifax. 



[Inclosure No. 2.] 



E. G. Adams, master of the American brig Orleans, of Portsmouth, 

 maketh oath and saith : That on the 10(h day of Juno, now lasi past, 

 he was at the Gut of Canso, in said vessel, (bound to Pictou for a 

 cargo of coal.) when the Orleans was boarded by Duncan McMillan, 

 collector of lighl dues, who demanded payment of Light-money. De- 

 ponent told said McMillan thai he had not a sufficient Bum of money 

 on board to pay it ; thai he was hound to Pictou, where he would get 

 money, and where be expected to pay nil his port charges. McMillan, 

 however, insisted on being paid, and told deponent if he had no 



money he in ii 1 pay out of the flip's stores; on which deponent. at 



the request of aid McMillan, gave him a barrel of flour, in part pay- 

 ment, having no other means of satis Eying the demand. 



E. G. Adams. 



Sworn to at Pictou, the Gth July, 1830, before me, 



James Prtmrose, 

 Consul, U. S. A. 



