AKGUMENT OF SIB WTLLJAM ROBSON. 1781 



complained to their own Government that they had to pay light dues 

 when they passed through the Gut of Canso ; but no diplomatic pro- 

 test was made. They also complained of having to pay anchorage 

 dues if they anchored in colonial harbours. There was, again, no 

 protest communicated to England ; but the fishermen, I suppose, be- 

 ing accustomed to be considered as rather a favoured class, thought 

 that they might possibly procure some exemption. However, they 

 did not get it. 



Perhaps I had better finish this enumeration, as I am on the 

 United States part of it, I had better finish two points in 

 1077 regard to lighthouses before I go to the subject of New- 

 foundland statutes. In 1852 Sabine says (p. 1276 of the 

 United States Case Appendix) that the fishermen are complaining of 

 the heavy light dues at Canso and the anchorage dues in Miramichi. 

 And although he reports that, in that great document of his which 

 deals with the fisheries from every point of view, yet no protest is 

 made. There is no acceptance by the United States of the doctrine 

 that these dues ought not to be imposed. Then, in the same year, 

 the United States consul at Pictou (British Case Appendix, p. 198) 

 writes to Sir Arthur Bannerman, who was Lieutenant-Governor of 

 Prince Edward Island, emphasising the importance of beacons and 

 buoys upon these coasts of Prince Edward Island. He says: 



" It has been satisfactorily proved, by the testimony of many of 

 those who escaped from a watery grave in the late gales, that had 

 there been beacon lights upon the two extreme points of the coast, 

 extending a distance of 150 miles, scarcely any lives would have been 

 lost, and but a small amount of property been sacrificed." 



He is there writing as consul of the United States to a British 

 governor asking for more lighthouses, and saying how many lives 

 have been lost for the want of them. He goes on to say : 



"And I am satisfied, from the opinion expressed by your Ex- 

 cellency, that the attention of your Government will be early called 

 to the subject, and that but a brief period will elapse before the 

 blessing of the hardy fishermen of Xew England, and your own in- 

 di'.strious sons, will be gratefully returned for this most philan- 

 thropic effort to preserve life and property, and for which benefit 

 every vessel should contribute its share of light-duty. 



" It has been the means of developing the capacity of many of your 

 harbours, and exposing the dangers attending their entrance and the 

 necessity of immediate steps being taken to place buoys in such 

 prominent positions that the mariner would in perfect safety flee 

 to them in case of necessity, with a knowledge that these guides 

 would enable him to be sure of shelter and protection." 



Of course, buoys are not only indications which guide you, but they 

 are also a means by which you can moor the vessel to the buoy, and 

 give it such repose as is possible in these stormy seas. But now 

 here is a representation that the local jurisdiction ought to do 



