AEGUMENT OF SIB WILLIAM EOBSON. 1789 



some passage showing that, as though it was some great enormity. 

 It was not so considered then. I do not think it was a particular 

 enormity. It was valuable for fishing at that time, and although it 

 was intended for the particular benefit of the British Crown, and any 

 class the Crown might favour, yet they all had to make their entry. 

 British ships were specially favoured in the matter of obligations 

 or taxes, specially favoured, but they all had to make their entry. 

 That was essential for fiscal purposes. They always had to do it. 



Then to this day I believe, although it is in the form of consolidated 

 statutes, section 9 of that very statute of 1767 is still in operation in 

 something very much like the same terms, as it always was. 



Then the statute of 1775, for instance, which has been so often 

 referred to in other connections, made just after the outbreak of the 

 Civil War, was no doubt intended to exclude the United States, the 

 then revolting colonists, from the benefit of Newfoundland, and so 

 taxes were laid on all vessels with a special exemption in favour of 

 British vessels, but still the British vessel had to make this report on 

 its arrival. The master still had to report or clear going outwards, 

 and she had to pay for each report a small fee, not exceeding half- 

 a-crown, showing that it must have been treated as essential and nec- 

 essary, or we would not put it upon our own men, whom we were 

 specially desirous of encouraging. 



So that if you take the date when the United States declares its 

 Independence, 1776 (and the same state of things is prevailing in 

 1783), you have there all fishing- vessels, foreign or colonial, whether 

 trading or simply fishing, all subject to every revenue regulation 

 every one. 



That is the condition of things in which, and with regard to which 

 the parties are contracting in 1783. 



Then there was of course in respect of fishing- vessels coming from 

 Great Britain and carrying no merchandise, some relaxation of taxa- 

 tion, but no remission or relaxation of the obligation to report and 

 enter. 



Well now follows a list of colonial statutes, which I can deal with 

 very broadly. 



They relate to all the colonies, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, 

 and New Brunswick, and they all of them have the effect of applying 

 to every colony, and to every class of vessel the obligation of 

 reporting. 



For instance, Nova Scotia in 1769: "All masters of ships fishing 

 and all other vessels .... shall .... within twenty-four 



1082 hours after arrival make report." That applies to 



every colonial ship. And, its declaration on oath has to be 

 made as to alcoholic liquors. 



Then in 1775 Prince Edward Island to the same effect 



