BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 211 



Bay for mackarel. Some, after having made one or two trips or 

 fares of codfish, proceed to the Bay de Chaleur, well fitted, taking 

 sufficient barrels to cure their fish in. These are partly filled with 

 menhaden and clams, which are considered the best bait for mackarel ; 

 others are filled with salt and water, which make ballast; when re- 

 quired for use they are emptied of their contents and filled with 

 mackarel; this keeps their vessels in good ballast. They generally 

 commence their fishing about Bradelle Bank, Shippegan, and follow 

 the fish, northerly, until the season advances, when they return to 

 the north side of Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton; the crew 

 of these vessels are nearly one-fourth belonging to Nova Scotia. 

 Some of these leave their homes in the spring of the year and take 

 passage for the United States for employment ; others ship on board 

 American vessels when they arrive in Nova Scotia. This may be a 

 cause why American fishermen are found fishing within the limits. 



The Straits of Canso being the chief passage that American vessels 

 take, when bound to or from the Bay de Chaleur, they generally stop 

 here, as they say, for the purpose of shelter, repairing damages and 

 procuring wood and water. Many of the places through this strait 

 are so situated, that vessels may haul into the bank and discharge 

 without being detected. As these vessels, bound on a fishing voyage, 

 are nearly full of barrels, it would be nearly impossible to detect 

 them is actually engaged in illicit trade. Some or the coves where 

 they resort have fine streams of fresh water, with rum shops near by, 

 which give them an opportunity of taking on shore a barrel of the 

 American manufactured brandy, and bringing in return the pure 

 fresh water; and as many of the crew of these vessels were actually 

 residents of these places, they think they have the same privileges as 

 those who sail in British vessels; and as they have been habituated to 

 go on shore and purchase small stores, such as butter, potatoes, sheep, 

 and such articles from the inhabitants, I found the inhabitants of the 

 coast more favourable to the American than they were towards the 

 Nova Scotia men. At some places I heard that the inhabitantes would 

 go out in their boats when the Americans were taking mackarel, and 

 make fast to them and fish while they had them baited up. All this 

 gives the inhabitants a favorable opinion of the Americans. 



As to the mode to be pursued to prevent American fishermen from 

 illicit trade, and going within the limits to fish, it is not easy to 

 determine. 



However, as Nova Scotia has so many harbors and places for ves- 

 sels to resort to, and the Strait of Canso open for all vessels, it would 

 are many of opinion, that protective duties would raise Nova Scotia 

 The chief of those who remove to the United States, who go from 

 Nova Scotia to sail in American vessels, are young men who would 

 never leave Nova Scotia could they get employment at home. There 

 are many of opinion, that protective duties would raise Nova Scotia 

 to a level with other countries, but I believe this would never keep 

 these young men in the province. 



The fact is, Nova Scotia wants a market for its produce, and its 

 greatest production is fish. Let us see how a protective duty would 

 work: the fishermen of Nova Scotia calls on a merchant for sup- 

 plies: if he has a little property it is likely the answer will be, you 

 can have such and such articles, but as there is a high tariff this year, 

 for the purpose of raising you to a level with other countries., you 

 9290b . Doc. 870, 61-d, vol 6 22 



