DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 381 



caught and marketed by the other colonists. The actual gain from 

 this mode of dealing with the creAvs and owners of United States 

 fishing vessels, and the requisite establishment of business firms and 

 agencies at the Island, together with minor benefits of local trade, 

 doubtless prove more than an equivalent to the aggregate amount of 

 small tonnage fees which might be derived through strict enforce- 

 ment of the laws and the system in force under the treaty. 



The undersigned perceives that were the revenue officers who are 

 stationed at these ports of Nova Scotia, to avail themselves of the 

 auxiliary means afforded by the Customs Acts, to enforce, under pain 

 of direct seizure and confiscation, the acceptance of licences, notwith- 

 standing any professed intention to resort to Prince Edward Island 

 to procure licences which are not there required of them, the evil 

 complained of might in a measure be remedied. These officers have 

 (under instructions) refrained from such legitimate action because of 

 an anxious desire to avoid every possible risk of collision, and bearing 

 in mind the particular wish expressed by the Colonial Secretary's 

 Despatch of 12th April, 1866, respecting the free navigation of the 

 Gut of Canso by American vessels. 



There can be no doubt that the laxity and connvivance [connivance] 

 of the authorities of Prince Edward Island are calculated practically 

 to defeat the Imperial measures devised for the protection of our 

 Fisheries, and they certainly thwart the endeavours of the Canadian 

 Executive to give eft'ect to the very moderate and conciliatory views 

 of Her Majesty's Government. It is, moreover, peculiarly unfortu- 

 nate that any such grievance as the diversion of an active portion of 

 local trade should at this time be superadded to the feeling of dis- 

 content in Nova Scotia, particularly as it seems closely related to the 

 insufficiency of naval assistance referred to in the Minute of Council 

 dated 9th of October last. In the present temper of that province 

 an injury of this kind is naturally ascribed to the policy and action 

 of the Dominion Government, instead of being attributed to the 

 peculiar conduct of Prince Edward Island. 



It is quite obvious from recent events, that influential parties in 

 the United States are seeking to take advantage of, as well as to 

 encourage the isolation of that province, and by tempting induce- 

 ments to the fishing and other interests there designed to react upon 

 the fishing populations of the adjacent provinces, may much em- 

 barrass any future disposal of the fishery question. 



Under all of these circumstances it seems highly important, that, 

 if the system of licensing American fishing vessels is to be again 

 renewed, the whole administration of it should be placed under con- 

 trol of the Government of Canada. Otherwise it will be absolutely 

 necessary, should the licence system continue, to compel the masters of 

 foreign fishing vessels to provide themselves with licences on entering 

 the Gulf of Canso, or upon touching in their course at any of the ports 

 of Nova Scotia. It is, however, questionable Avhether such system of 

 licensing, adopted as a temporary expedient on the termination of 

 the Reciprocity Treaty, should be further continued since its past 

 continuance has not led to any desirable results. 



The undersigned recommends that advantage be taken of the 

 presence in England of Sir Geo. E. Cartier and the Honourable Mr. 

 Macdougall, C.B., to make this the subject of personal conference 

 with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 



