DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 385 



phrase " prohibited limits " was the rule and not the exception. This 

 unquestionably passive toleration on the part of the Island authorities 

 is certainly quite inconsistent with the arrangements entered into 

 with regard to the mutual adoption of the licence system and the 

 exaction of a similar rate of tonnage dues between the Government 

 of the Island, and that of Canada. 



On the assumption that the policy of exacting tonnage dues from 

 the American fishermen for the privilege of fishing in British wa- 

 ters, will be continued for the present, the question naturally pre- 

 sents itself, at what amount such exaction should be placed. The 

 statistics of the last three years show a decided diminution in the 

 acceptance of licences by the Americans in proportion to the increase 

 of duty payable thereon; and I am strongly of opinion that hence- 

 forth it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to induce them 

 to accept licences, unless the dues be placed at the lowest rate yet 

 exacted. I derive this view from personal intercourse with many of 

 the parties concerned; and even in their submission to that rate, I 

 might be disappointed, if the authorities of Prince Edward Island 

 continue practically to encourage the refusal to take licences from 

 the authorities of the Dominion, by permitting on the shores, within 

 the jurisdiction of that Island, the free fishing to which I have 

 already adverted. There is, I am aware, a considerable class of per- 

 sons, who advocate a continuance of the present high, or even a 

 higher rate of duty as the condition of licence. But it must be borne 

 in mind that in the present state of this question a high rate of duty 

 means efficient protection and its accompanying expense. Without 

 that efficient protection, licences at any rate, exceeding a nominal 

 amount, and I consider 50 cents per ton to be an amount of that 

 character, will not be accepted. And this brings me to the considera- 

 tion of the nature and character of such protection. I would be the 

 last man to utter a word or write a line that could be construed as 

 a matter of reproach towards the Imperial naval authorities, in 

 respect of their services on this point, but the facts of the case com- 

 pel me to say that I cannot regard with favour the present system 

 of the protection of the fisheries. The inefficiency of the protection 

 now afforded may be attributed to two causes. In the first place, 

 Her Majesty's ships are sent on this service at too late a period in 

 the fishing season. It is during the months preceding the fall of 

 the year that their presence on the fishing grounds is most required. 

 Later in the season the fish resort to deeper water, and are to be 

 found outside of the prohibited limits. Protection therefore is not 

 then necessary. As an illustration of the habits of the fish, as well 

 as of the necessity of the vessels engaged in the protection of the 

 fisheries being on the ground at an earlier period, I may mention that 

 I was credibly informed, when at Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, 

 by an eye witness of the fact, that in the month of August last an 

 entire fleet of about 100 sail of American fishermen had actually 

 and very successfully fished for several days, without interruption, 

 in the land-wash near Rustico, on the North side of the Island, of 

 course to the great insult and detriment of British subjects residing 

 there. I was also given to understand that Her Majesty's ships 

 Niger and Barracoutta, detailed as the protective force during the 

 last season, did not reach the shores of Cape Breton and Prince 

 Edward Island until the beginning of the month of October. In the 

 02900 S. Doc. 870. 61-3, vol 4 35 



