386 MISCELLANEOUS 



In 1906 the Newfoundland Government further enacted an abso- 

 lute prohibition of our shipping on any foreign fishing vessel; but 

 thanks to the action of the Imperial Government in withholding 

 assent to same, this Act did not become law. 



During the past season, our fishermen proceeded outside the three- 

 mile limit and shipped to the Americans, as in 1905. Many hun- 

 dreds of our fishermen shipped on bond -fide American vessels in 1906, 

 and a large number shipped on so-called Canadian vessels. These 

 latter were vessels that new the British flag and carried a Canadian 

 register; but a great many were chartered to and fishing for 

 Americans. 



During the prosecution of the past season's fishery an attempt was 

 made by the Newfoundland Government to interfere with our opera- 

 tions. The so-called Bait Act, Chapter 129, of the Consolidated 

 Statutes of Newfoundland (second series), was brought into force, 

 and two fishermen, residents of Wood's Island, Bay of Islands, were 

 cited before the Magistrate, at Bay of Islands, charged with putting 

 herring on board an American vessel contrary to the provisions of 

 the said Bait Act. After hearing the evidence, &c., the Magistrate 

 convicted the defendants of a breach of the Act, and fined them $500 

 each, or three months' imprisonment. The matter has been carried 

 to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland on appeal, and is still undis- 

 posed of. 



In the meantime, official statements have been made in the House 

 of Assembly; and elsewhere to the effect that the majority of the 

 people of this coast are in favour of the policy of the Newfoundland 

 Government. 



We beg to state most emphatically that the people of this coast 

 are unanimous in condemning this policy as one which is injurious 

 to the best interests of the Colony as a whole, and ruinous to the 

 livelihood of the people of this Western Coast. 



For the reasons, therefore, that (A) the American market is the 

 only adequate market available to us in which to dispose of our 

 herring; (B) no substitute sufficient and immediate is provided for 

 this market, and without it we shall be compelled to abandon our 

 fishery and take our families elsewhere to seek a living; and (c) the 

 policy of the Newfoundland Government is, in our opinion, contrary 

 to natural justice to the best interests of the Colony. 



We respectfully pray Your Excellency to submit this statement 

 to His Majesty in Council through the proper channels; and we 

 further pray that His Majesty in Council will be pleased to take 

 such action as will enable us to enjoy our fishery as we enjoyed same 

 prior to the legislation of 1905 and 1906. 



Governor MacGregor to Lord Elgin. 



GOVERNMENT HOUSE, St. John's, April 4, 1907. 



(Received April 27, 1907.) 



MY LORD: With reference to my despatch of the 2nd instant, I 

 have the honour to enclose, for your information, copy of the leading 

 article in the " Daily News " of St. John's, of this day's date, which 

 represents that the resolution adopted by the public meeting: that 



