PERTAINING TO SITUATION IN 1852-1853. 183 



Commodore Shvforick to the Secretary of the Navy. 



No. 23.] " PRINCETON," AT PORTSMOUTH, N. H., 



September 19, 1853. 



SIR: My despatches from the 1st to the 14th, inclusive, have in- 

 formed the department of the movements of this ship up to the 16th 

 of August. 



After leaving Halifax, I ran along the coast of Nova Scotia to the 

 Strait of Canso, which I entered on the evening of the 17th, and 

 anchored at Sand Point. On the next day I anchored successively at 

 Pilot Cove and Ship Harbor. At each of these places diligent inquiry 

 was made of the masters of American vessels, and, at the last, of our 

 consular agent, in relation to the treatment of our fishing vessels by 

 the armed vessels of other nations, and no instance was learned of any 

 improper interference. Some cases were reported of vessels having 

 been warned off who were found fishing or loitering within three 

 miles of the shores. 



It was thought advisable to make particular inquiry in this strait, 

 as it is the passage through which great numbers of vessels pass, and 

 where wood, water, and other supplies are obtained; and although 

 there were not many Americans in it at the time of our visit, I was 

 informed by the consular agent that in the course of the last year 

 eleven thousand vessels, of all kinds, were counted passing through 

 both ways, and some must have passed in the night who were not 

 counted. 



From the Strait of Canso I went to Pictou. This port is the resi- 

 dence of the consul of the United States for the north coast of Nova 

 Scotia, to whom complaints of interference would naturally be made, 

 if any should be experienced within the limits of his consulate; but 

 he had heard of none. 



From Pictou I crossed over to Charlottetown, Prince Edward 

 island, and inquired into the case of the schooner " Starlight," seized 

 by her Majesty's steamer Devastation; the official papers in relation 

 to which were forwarded with my despatch No. 15. 



The Fulton having joined me at Pictou, accompanied me to Char- 

 lottetown, that some slight repairs might be made to her machinery, 

 under the direction of chief engineer Shock. She was despatched on 

 the evening of the 29th August, under instructions; copies of which 

 accompany this. 



Leaving Charlottetown, it was found necessary to anchor in the 

 outer harbor of Georgetown, in order to make some repairs to the 

 engine of the Princeton the necessity of which was not discovered 

 until after we had left Charlottetown, but which, fortunately, could 

 be done by our own engineers. 



On the 2d September, at meridian, we anchored in Gaspe bay, 

 Lower Canada, having, in the course of the night and morning, 

 passed through many hundreds of fishing vessels, showing generally 

 American colors. These were all fishing outside the bays. The ship 

 passed slowly through them, with her colors set, but it was deemed 

 best not to interrupt them in their fishing by boarding or running 

 so near as to haiJ. If any one of them had complaint to make, com- 

 munication could be easily had with the ship, and the slightest inti- 



