BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 389 



this for an injury to those most interested, and a very questionable 

 advantage to Newfoundlanders at the best. 



The only ones that will really benefit by the whole business are the 

 Canadians. They are sharp enough to see this, and are already 

 availing of their advantages. 



Possibly a few troublesome politicians may also benefit. Grand 

 crosses, knighthoods, and decorations sometimes have a soporific effect 

 in sharp contrast to the activity with which they are sought after. 



Governor MacGregor to Lord Elgin. 



GOVERNMENT HOUSE, St. John's, April 17, 1907. 



(Received April 27, 190T.) 



MY LORD: I have the honour to enclose, for your information, an 

 extract from the " Daily News " of St. John's, of this day's date, in 

 which is discussed the adoption by the fishermen of Bonne Bay of 

 the Resolution recently transmitted to me from Bay of Islands, and 

 forwarded in my despatch of the 2nd instant. 

 2. The Resolution from Bonne Bay has not yet reached my hands. 

 I have, &c., 



W. MACGREGOR. 



[Inclosnre.] 

 [Extract from Daily News, St. John's, Newfoundland, April 17, 1907.] 



BONNE BAY PROTESTS. 



A mesage published in Monday's " News," stated that a public 

 meeting of the fishermen of Bonne Bay had unanimously adopted 

 resolutions of protest against the herring fishery policy of the Gov- 

 ernment. 



This is a practical endorsement of the recent decision of the people 

 of Bay of Islands, who spoke with no uncertain sound some days ago. 



Do we properly appreciate the terrible seriousness of this business 

 to the people of the Northwest Coast? Their whole livelihood is at 

 stake. With the Americans excluded they have, at present, nowhere 

 else to look. 



There are many who believe that the Canadians will fill the breach, 

 but all that the Canadians have done so far is to charter their vessels 

 or sell their cargoes to the Gloucester combine they have found no 

 new markets. 



Others believe that our own merchants will take the business up. 

 We trust they may ; but if they will not do it with a promised bounty, 

 what hope is there of them doing it at all ? 



If ever the Americans are effectually excluded, it may be that the 

 West Coast merchants who engage in 'the Bank fishery will come to 

 the front; but before killing the goose that laid the golden egg the 

 substitute or successor should have been found. 



The agitations and protests at Bay of Islands and Bonne Bay arc 

 the spontaneous expressions of popular feeling. It is the voice of the 

 breadwinner demanding that he be not robbed of the means of earn- 

 ing bread for his loved ones. 



