PERIOD FROM 1836 TO 1854. 449 



payable to the said McMillan or his order on demand, for the amount 

 of the light duty. 



Roderick McKenzik. 



Sworn to at Pictou, this 24th day of September, 1839, before me, 



James Primrose, 

 Consul of the United States of America. 



[Inclosure No. 8.] 



Sir Rupert D. George to Consul Prim/rose. 



Provincial Secretary's Office, 



Halifax, September 30, 1839. 

 Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of j^our letter of 

 the 2C>th instant, enclosing a copy of an affidavit of the master of the 

 American brig Emerald, relative to the conduct of Mr. Duncan 

 McMillan, collector of light-dues in the Gut of Canso. 



"Various other complaints against this person having been made 

 to the Lieutenant Governor, the attorney general is directed to in- 

 quire minutely into them: and as McMillan may be hourly expected 

 here, I hope to be soon able to reply to the several communications 

 which it has been your duty to address to me on the subject of his 

 alleged misconduct. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 



Rupert D. George. 

 James Primrose, Esq.. 



Consul of the United States of America, Pictou. 



Consul Primrose to Mr. Forsyth. 



(No. 1 1.) Consulate of the United States, 



Pictou, November 18, 1839. 



Sib: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 

 the 1st ultimo, and to transmit herewith a copy of a letter which I 

 have jii-t received from the Secretary of this province on the subjects 

 which I brought under your notice in my last communication to you, 

 dated the LOth ultimo. 



Vesseh of the United States trading to this port have paid upwards 

 <>f $2,800 for "light dues" during tne present year; the aggregate 

 of the * ;i x i greatly increased from the circum tances of its being 

 also collected each voyage from all American li lung vessels (and 

 they arc very numerous! using the pa age of Canso strait. The 

 claim set up by the province of Nova Scotia, of an exclusive right to 

 the Strait of Can o, i de erving of consideration. If this claim l>e 

 admitted, the provincial government may at any time impose such 

 restrictions on its navigation as would amount to a prohibition of 

 it ii e a- a commodious aco to the fishing grounds in the Guf of 

 St. Lawrence. 



In my letter to you (no. LI.) dated the 1 Mh March Last, [anticipated 

 the difficulties which the fishermen have subsequently experienced 



