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snvolving the loss of vessel and cargo ; and that confiscation also awaits 

 those who, in the same barbarous precincts, presume to use a bait- 

 mill! The degree of civilization in colonial legislation is wondertul, 

 and without a parallel, except in Tunis or Tripoli.* 



As the concluding topic, we pass to examine into the causes of the 

 seizure of our vessels, by ships of the crown and by the colonial cutters, 

 for allea^ed " acjcjressions." 



Chronological order is not material to the inquiry, and will be dis- 

 regarded. In many cases we have the seizing officer's own account. 

 Thus says one : 



*' I found the said American schooner Rebecca at anchor, cleaning 

 fish and throwing the offiil overboard. It being fine weather, and they 

 having three barrels of water on board, with a sufficient quantity of 

 wood, I detained her, and took her to St. John." 



Again, reports the same officer to his superior : 



" I found the American fishing schooner William anchoring in Gull 

 cove ; the weather was fine until after she got in, when it came on 

 foggy, with light breezes ; and they having two barrels of water on 

 board, which myself, Mr. Tongeau, and boat's crew subsequently used 

 from, and plenty of wood, I detained her." 



Still again : 



" I received information from the fishermen at Gull cove, as well as 

 from the master and crew of the fishing schooner Minerva, of Grand 

 Menan, that an American schooner was at anchor at Beal's passage. 

 I went out from Gull cove, and saw her there ; at nine o'clock in the 

 evening I boarded her, which proved to be the American fishing 

 schooner Galeon, and found all the crew asleep. On questioning the 

 master the reason of his being there, he told me he had come to throw 

 the gurry (offid of the fish) overboard. They not being in want of wood 

 or water, and a fine fair wind for them, I detained her, got her under 

 weigh, and ran for Gull cove, a direct course for their fishing ground. 

 What the crew of the last mentioned vessel asserted in their protest is 

 not true. I never said that I would release their vessel, but told them 

 that it was not in my power to. do it, as they had decidedly violated 

 the treat}^ of convention between England and the United States ; but as 

 they pleaded povert3r, saying their vessel was their sole support, I told 

 them I would recommend their case to Captain Hoare, of the Dotterel, 

 my commanding officer." 



The schooner Battelle was seized for setting nets in a harbor, and for 



* As an mstance of the falsehoods resorted to in Nova Scotia to inflame the minds of the 

 colonial fishermen, I cite the following paragraph which appeared in a HttJifax paper i]i 1845: 



" Mackerel fisltenj. — About fom* huudred vessels engaged in the mackerel fishery (from the 

 coast of Nova Scotia aud Cape Breton) arrived at the port of Gloucester (United States) on 

 Smiday, Septeusber 27. Their cargoes averaged one hundred barrels. Thus this fleet had 

 upwards of forty thousand barrels of fish — pretty pickings enough ! The whole catch of our 

 provincial fishermen will not exceed ten thousand barrels." 



There is one other " fish story'' equal to this, namely: Some six hundred j-ears ago, a woman- 

 fish direct from the ocean made her appearance among the fishermen of Holland, with whom 

 she lived awhile in great amity ; but desiring finally to see her children, she took affectionate 

 ieave of the kind Dutchmen, and returned to her old home in the sea, where, for aught that 

 appears in history, she is alive at this day. The skippers above mentioned reported falling in 

 with her on the " coast of Nova Scotia and Cape Bretou" iu 1845, but the veracious llaliliix 

 editor suppresses the importaat fact. 



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