DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 335 



employed and the immense benefit which would result to the people 

 within your jurisdiction, as well as those of the United States, if the 

 fishermen were allowed unrestrained liberty to fish in any portion of 

 your waters, and permitted to land for the purpose of curing and 

 packing. 



From remarks made by your Excellency, I am satisfied it is a sub- 

 ject which has secured your most matured reflection and considera- 

 tion, and that it would be a source of pride and pleasure to your 

 Excellency to carry into successful operation a measure fraught with 

 so much interest to both countries. 



2d. It has been satisfactorily proved, by ihe 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 contribute 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. 



From the desire manifested by your Excellency previous to mv 

 leaving Charlotte Town that I would freely express my views relative 

 to the recent most melancholy disaster, and make such suggestions as 

 might in my opinion have a tendency to prevent similar results, there 

 is no occasion for my offering an apology for addressing you at this 

 time. 



I have, &c. B. N. NORTON, 



United States Consul for Pictou Dependency. 



His Excellency Sir A. BANNERMAN, &c. &c. 



199 No. 116. 185%, December 6: Extracts from Report of Mr. 

 Lorenzo Sabine on the principal -fisheries of the American 

 seas. Transmitted to the United States Secretary of the 

 Treasury. 



FISHERIES OF LABRADOR. 



The coast of Labrador was partially explored by Jacques Carrier 

 in 1534. He was beset with ice, and encountered many difficulties. 

 Little was known of the country for a long period after the voyage 

 of the French navigator. It has been said, however, that our cod- 

 fishery was extensive in this region, not only previous to the Revolu- 

 tion, but in the early part of the last century. The statement I 



