2S9 



combatants and famishing women and cliiklrcn. If the abstract right 

 exist to close Canso in time of peace against vessels under sail, it 

 belongs to the same class of inhuman rules of the international code. 

 "The English," says Montesquieu, "have made the protection of 

 foreign merchants one of the articles of their national Hberty." I com- 

 mend the sentiment to the consideration of the English crown law3'-ers. 



But let us take a practical view of the question before us. The 

 peninsula of Nova Scotia is bounded on the northeast b}' the strait, or 

 "gut," of which we are speaking, and is sej)nrat(-d by it from the large 

 island of Cape Brt^ton. To save the long, dilhcult, and at some times 

 of the year the dangerous voyage round this island, our vessels are in 

 the constant practice of passing through Canso. The strait is lighted; 

 and our flag contributes liberally to support all the light-houses on the 

 coast. The "light-money" exacted is, indeed, so enormous — the 

 benefit atl()rded considered — that our ship-owners complain of the ex- 

 actions continually.* It is apparent at a glance that the sailing of a 

 vessel over the sea between Nova Scotia and Cape Breton can, of 

 itself, harm no one. This sea, be it understood, is very narrow, not 

 exceeding, in some parts, one mile in l)readth. 



Having thus stated the case, we will illustrate the doctrine main- 

 tained by the crown lawyers, by one exactly parallel in all its points. 

 The "McLane arrangement" in 1830, disposed of many of the diffi- 

 culties which, from the peace of 1783, had embarrassed our intercourse 

 with the colonies, and under its terms colonial vessels have freely used 



• The United States consul at Pictou, Nova Scotia, thus wrote to Mr. Forsyth, Secretary 

 of State, in 1839 : " The tax of six and two-thirds cents per ton rei,dHter of shippin;,', collected 

 by the province of Nova Scotia at the Strait of Canso, is levied on British as well as foreign 

 ships; bnt it becomes a heavy charge on American vessels makinir four or five trips a year to 

 this port, in the coal trade: and as tliere is no impost on shipping in American ports for ihe 

 euppoit (if lights on the coast of the United States, such a tax on American vessels in the 

 ports (if the British colonies involves a discrepance in the terms of intercourse between the 

 two countries, although it professes to be based on strict reciprocity." 



The Gloucester Telegraph, a paper which is authority on all matters connected with the 

 fisheries, contained the following article, August, 1852 : 



"Light duty at the bay. — One of the most grievous things which our fisliermen have to 

 submit U) at the Bay of St. Lawrence, is the payment of a light-duty. Our vessels have for 

 years been obliged to pay this duty at the Gut of Canso, which is a tax upim the town of 

 Gloucester alone of $1,000 a year. This year every vessel which visits the harbor of Prince 

 Edward Island is obliged to jjay another tax, which is called anclntrage duty. As almost 

 all of (»ur vessels ^^sit the island, this new duty al)out doubles the tax upon them. And atrain, 

 if any of our vessels are driven by stress of weather into Miramichi, and some of the otiicr 

 ports on the main land, the anchorage duty, light-duty, jxirt charges, &c.. Sec, are put ui)on 

 them to the amount of .■$•20 more. Now, is this right .' The Nova Scotia vessels whicli visit 

 our harbors are subjected to port charges, amounting, for a vessel under one hundred tons, to 

 only i$4 .oO. "Why should our vessels, for merely passing through their waters, be subjected 

 to so heavy a tax, whib; their vessels who visit us for the purjiose of trading have the benetit 

 of our liiiht-houses, and oidy pay a trifling sum for port charges .' 



" It is said that the light-duty jiaid by our vessels is for the support of their light-houses. 

 But what are those light-houses .' Thr-re are two poor liyhis at liu- (Jut of Canso, but none 

 en the coasts visited by the fishenneu, excejit, we believe, at Gaspe. There is no light on the 

 whole niirthem coast of Prince Edward Island, w hich is most visited by our tislicnuen dur- 

 ing the stormy months of September and Octolier, when the lights are most needed. Our 

 fishing-vessels alone pay light-duty sufficient tfi have the coast well lighte.l. 



"The officers who colk'ct these duties admit that they are unjust; but still tli(>y ^ay rheir 

 govenun.iit must impose them. And how are tiu^y collected .' The officers at the i-land 

 olfer to take most auvthing when the captain hesilates about paying the. specie; (i.ey wii] 

 take molasses, pork, aud even oil clothes! This is u nice wav io smurnle in the goods.'' 

 I) 



