DESPATCHES, REPOKTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 387 



suggestion I have offered with regard to the imposition of a nominal 

 duty of 50 cents, seems to me if adopted as well calculated to restore 

 to the sections of Nova Scotia referred to, much of their former pros- 

 perity and consequent contentment. I firmly believe that licences at 

 that rate will be generally if not universally accepted. The liberty to 

 use our ports as a consequence of such acceptance of licences, will be 

 again embraced. The transfer of their trade to Prince Edward Island 

 will be checked, if not abandoned. The Americans will use the more 

 convenients ports of the Strait of Canso. Their cargoes will be landed 

 and stored there, while if they desire to ship the same to their own 

 home markets, facility to do so by steamers which pass through the 

 Strait of Canso weekly will be at hand. And I feel convinced that a 

 marked improvement in our trade and business generally would be the 

 immediate result. 



There is another branch of the general subject on which I take the 

 opportunity to remark, and that is the probability of a large amount 

 of American caught fish being forwarded as British caught fish to 

 ports in the United States by steamboats trading from British ports 

 and particularly from ports in Prince Edward Island. There is an 

 obvious difficulty in obtaining accurate information on this point. 

 The records of the Custom Houses in the United States would be the 

 only means of arriving at just conclusions in the matter. I may how- 

 ever give an extract of a letter received from a merchant of standing, 

 residing at St. John, N. B., which throws some light upon the state 

 of the case. It is dated 4th December, 1868. The writer says. " I 

 fear the Bostonians are doing a large illicit trade in British caught 

 mackerel in Prince Edward Island. There have been large quantities 

 passing through here this season, principally Prince Edward Island 

 brand. I learn that they are forwarded by an American, who is car- 

 rying on a shore fishery at the Island in small boats, and in addition, 

 buys all he can get, and is allowed by the authorities at Washington, 

 to enter his fish as American caught, he being an American citizen. 

 The shipments have been from 200 to 300 barrels by each boat semi- 

 weekly since I came here, up to last week, and as I am told, was going 

 on for some time before. I presume they will amount in the aggre- 

 gate to some 4000 or 5000 barrels for the season by this route. They 

 arrive here by railway from Shediac, and likely the same parties are 

 shipping by the Charlottetown, Halifax and Boston line also. This 

 may lessen your Bay fares, as many of that catch may be purchased 

 by them, and entered free of duty at Boston." 



The foregoing seems to embrace the principal points of inquiry 

 suggested by your communication and instructions, and I trust that 

 the same will be acceptable to the Department and the Government. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



(Signed,) STEWART CAMPBELL. 



Hon. P. MITCHELL, 



Minister of Marine and Fisheries. 



No. 144. 1870, January 8: Report of Committee of Privy Council of 

 Canada approved by Governor-General in Council. 



The Committee having had under consideration the reports of the 

 Minister of Marine and Fisheries, dated respectively the 15th and 



