BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 385 



selves on the fishery question, and clearly showed their indignation 

 over the action of the Bond Government in enforcing such stringent 

 regulations on the fishermen. Here is the resolution, and also the 

 address : 



Whereas we, the people of Bay of Islands, view with alarm the 

 policy of the Government of this Colony regarding our herring 

 fishery; and 



Whereas, in the interests of our families, we feel that it becomes 

 necessary for us to protest against said policy, and to appeal to our 

 Gracious Majesty the King for protection and preservation; be it 

 therefore 



Resolved, that the annexed address to His Excellency the Governor 

 is a correct and true expression of our feelings on this matter; and 

 that our chairman and secretary sign same on Tbehalf of this meeting, 

 and forward same, together with this .resolution, to His Excellency, 

 with a respectful request that he give the same his consideration : 



To His Excellency Sir WILLIAM MACGREGOR, M. D., K. C. M. G., 

 Governor of Newfoundland, &c., &c. 



May it please Your Excellency, on behalf of the fishermen and 

 residents of the West Coast, especially those of Bay of Islands, Your 

 Excellency's consideration is respectfully craved to the following : 



For many years past the principal support of the people of this 

 bay has been obtained from the prosecution of the herring fishery in 

 this neighbourhood, and from the industries incidental to said fishery. 



About the latter part of October in each year, the herring usually 

 strike in some one or more of the deep arms of Bay of Islands, and 

 for the three months following, the residents of the bay, and many 

 others from other parts of the Colony, are busily engaged in catching 

 and curing the same. 



In the past a ready market has been found for this catch by selling 

 to American schooners, which have come down to the coast at this 

 season, and purchased our herring for cash, and at rates satisfactory 

 to our people. 



Without this American market, the fishery would be of little or no 

 benefit to us, as the demand for the fish in other directions, on the 

 same or as good terms, is comparatively nothing. 



In 1905 the Government of Newfoundland enacted, and enforced, a 

 law which prohibited us from selling our catch to the Americans, 

 and further prohibited us from shipping as fishing crews to American 

 fishing schooners in Newfoundland ports. This Act forced us to go 

 outside Newfoundland waters to ship as fishermen on United States 

 vessels during the seasons of 1905 and 1906. 



In some cases our fishermen went to parts of Nova Scotia, and 

 there joined the American vessels. In other cases, by far the most 

 numerous, our men proceeded in small fishing boats outside the waters 

 of the Colony, and joined tho American vessels on the high seas. 



This latter course was fraught with great danger, the weather at 

 this season is very tempestuous; the outer coasts of Bav of Islands 

 consist of bleak cliffs; the fishing boats are frail and without decks. 

 Fortunately no fatalities attended this mode of proceeding; but many 

 a life was jeopardised during the season by reason of the necessity 

 which forced us to put to sea to join our employers. 



