274 MISCELLANEOUS 



inshore fisheries at all, but which was fitted out for the Bank fisher- 

 ies, and which was seized and confiscated because she put into Cape 

 North to get wood and water, and while her captain was ashore on 

 business, one of his crew put a line overboard and caught six or seven 

 fish to have a fresh mess on board. I ask what member of this House, 

 who had lost thousands of dollars in that way, would not seek, in 

 his heart and with his right arm, if he had the power, to annihilate 

 the country in which he had been so treated ? I ask that question of 

 any one who has a sense of justice and of right. I will refer to an- 

 other instance to show how willing the Dominion government are to 

 inflict punishment if they possibly can upon Nova Scotians as well 

 as Americans. I allude to the case of Captain Cameron. His vessel 

 was seized, and he was tried for smuggling. When he went into a 

 court in which there was a jury of his countrymen, he was honorably 

 acquitted; but when he went into a court in which there was no jury, 

 and in which a single individual an officer of the Dominion Govern- 

 ment held in his power the destinies of those who come before him; 

 how fared he there? He was fined $850, was ruined and left in a 

 state of poverty, and what was the charge that was made against 

 him? That he had gone into a port that was not a port of entry. 

 Be it remembered that he had been months away from home ; in that 

 very port his wife and children lived, and he simply made a call to 

 see that all was well. * * * 



FRIDAY, FEB. 17. 



******* 



Hon. Mr. FLYNN. * * * Representing as I do a county whose popu- 

 lation is largely engaged in the fisheries it would be strange if I did not 

 assert the rights and protect the privileges of our fishermen a class 

 whose vocation is one of toil and hardship, who are exposed to perils 

 of no ordinary character and who in most cases in this country drag 

 out a miserable existence without the fostering care which in other 

 countries is so generously bestowed. During the discussion some 

 observations which deserve from me a passing notice have fallen from 

 the hon. member for Halifax. That gentleman has charged the gov- 

 ernment with being wanting in their duty in not tendering their 

 thanks to the Dominion Government for the protection of the fish- 

 eries during the past year. I, in common with my colleagues, saw 

 very little to be grateful for in the protection given by Mr. " Mit- 

 chell's Navy " as it is termed. While coinciding with the hon. mem- 

 ber for Halifax both as to the value of the fisheries and the impor- 

 tance of fully protecting them to the exclusion of the Americans from 

 the three mile limit, I cannot go the length which he would and say 

 that it is cause for congratulation when those who come to pur shores 

 for the purchase of commodities from our people are driven from 

 our coast. There is nothing in that to congratulate ourselves upon, 

 for I distinctly and emphatically condemn that policy while enter- 

 taining views in favor of strictly enforcing the treaty in the protec- 

 tion of our fishing grounds from intrusion. It is a well known fact 

 to persons who live along the shores of Nova Scotia proper and Cape 

 Breton that the schooners employed by the Dominion Government 

 so far from protecting our fisheries by remaining on the coast where 

 American fishermen were resorting for the catch of fish they were 



