DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 323 



as to render one or two short visits to each port all she could ac- 

 complish. 



I hear from the people of the country that for years after the 

 Treaty of 1818, was ratified, the Americans never did attempt to 

 fish in any part of Chaleur Bay, and that they have only done so 

 within the last 12 or 15 years or since the mackerel fishery has been 

 followed by them with so much advantage The obvious inference 

 then is that it was ijot till long a.fter the Treaty of 1818 was con- 

 cluded, that the fishing in the Bay of Chaleur was valued by 

 191 them, consequently no exception, as regards the word " bays," 

 seems to have been thought of, & none would ever have been 

 thought of had not the lucrative mackerel fishing become known 



Surely then since they are excluded by the Treaty from fishing &c. 

 ' ; within 3 miles of any coasts, bays, creeks, or harbours whatever " 

 they can have no right to fish in any part of Chaleur Bay. 



A contrary interpretation to this would be fatal to the interests 

 of a 1 vast number of H M subjects on both sides of the bay, on the 

 waters of which they meet each other while fishing, a proof that there 

 is no room for foreign fishermen , therefore, that the reservation of 

 the exclusive right to them was a just and necessary one. 



The mischief done to the fisheries by the Americans is not perceived 

 at once in all its bearings. They with characteristic energy pursue 

 the mackerel to the spawning grounds. & such is their power of 

 attracting the fish, that they leave few along the shores, & will cer- 

 tainly soon, if allowed, exterminate them. 



On the cod fishing the effect of their depredations is not to be cal- 

 culated, for not content with catching the mackerel close to the shore, 

 they clean them there also, often in the very harbours, the conse- 

 quence is that the cod fish become gorged & will not take bait, so that 

 not only do our own fishermen lse the mackerel as bait, but the 

 fish are prevented by feeding from taking the small quantity they 

 can procure. As a proof of this I found that no sooner had the cut- 

 ter of this sloop been stationed at Point Peter than (from the Ameri- 

 cans being effectually kept off) the cod fishing improved vastly; 

 indeed I am assured on all hands that the fishery is better than it has 

 been for a great many years, & the people are surprised at discover- 

 ing how much harm the Americans have done them in former years. 

 It is the poorer fishermen who suffer most from the want of bait 

 while the Americans infest the coast for they cannot compete in 

 capturing the mackerel with the American vessels which are fitted 

 out at a great expense, & have the means of attracting all the 

 fish leaving none for those who cannot afford to pursue them on 

 the same system 



If the Bay of Chaleur is to be open to the Americans, all the evils 

 I have mentioned with many others must remain and increase for it 

 is in vain to attempt to keep them 3 miles from the shore the fish 

 being all close to the land for the purpose of spawning and they will 

 follow them to the very bea'ch the instant a ship of war is out of 

 sight. 



I trust you will pardon my dwelling at such length on this subject, 

 but its extreme importance is my excuse having witnessed the very 

 prejudicial effects of the depredations of the Americans, as well as 

 having heard the well grounded complaints of the people, at the 



