66 CASE OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



POSITION IN 1818. 



It will thus be seen that not only in 1783, when the treaty of Paris 

 was entered into, but in 1818, when the treaty of that year 



76 came into effect, legislation was in force in the British col- 

 onies, whereby dues were levied on vessels entering colonial 



ports and harbours. After the convention, further lighthouses were 

 established on the coasts of the British colonies, and Acts were passed 

 from time to time providing for the imposition of light dues to 

 maintain them. 



The necessity for lighthouses and sea-marks, and the fairness of 

 charging part of the cost to American fishing vessels was pointed 

 out by the United States consul at Pictou in 1852. In a letter to 

 Sir A. Bannerman. Lieutenant- Governor of Prince Edward Island, 

 he said (App., p. 198) : 



2d. It has been satisfactorily proved, by the testimony of many of 

 those who escaped from a watery grave in the late gales, that had 

 there been beacon lights upon the two extreme points of the coast, 

 extending a distance of 150 miles, scarcely any lives would have been 

 lost, and but a small amount of property been sacrificed. And I am 

 satisfied, from the opinion expressed by your Excellency, that the 

 attention of your Government will be early called to the subject, and 

 that but a brief period will elapse before the blessing of the hardy 

 fishermen of New England, and your own industrious sons, will be 

 gratefully returned, for this most philanthropic effort to preserve 

 life and property, and for which benefit every vessel should contrib- 

 ute its share of light-duty. 



3rd. It has been the means of developing the capacity of many of 

 your harbours, and exposing the dangers attending their entrance, 

 and the necessity of immediate steps being taken to place buoys in 

 such prominent positions that the mariner would in perfect safety 

 flee to them in case of necessity, with a knowledge that these guides 

 would enable him to be sure of shelter and protection. 



NEWFOUNDLAND LEGISLATION. 



Newfoundland legislation regarding lighthouses commenced in 

 1834. The statute 4 Wm. IV, cap. 4, recited that there was (App., 

 p. 694) 



already erected and provided at the entrance of the Port of St. John's 

 in this island, a building tor the purpose of a lighthouse, and other 

 apparatus necessary for lighting the same, but which cannot be put 

 in operation for want of adequate means to defray the expense 

 thereof. 



Dues were accordingly levied to pay the cost of maintenance, but 

 coasting and fishing vessels were exempt. 



In the following year (5 Wm. IV, cap. 7) (App., p. 695) , dues 



77 were established for the maintenance of Harbor Grace light- 



