1460 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



No. 4. 

 TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 



The humble address of the legislative council and house of assembly of 

 Nova Scotia in Provincial Parliament. 



May it please Your Majesty: 



The council and house of assembly of your loyal Province of Nova 

 Scotia humbly approach Your Majesty with their complaints against 

 the citizens of the United States of America, who violate with impu- 

 nity the provisions of treaties existing between the two nations, to the 

 injury and detriment of the inhabitants of this colony. 



Yo*ur council and assembly humbly refer Your Majesty to the conven- 

 tion made in the year 1818, whereby the American Government obtained 

 for the citizens of that country privileges not ceded to them by the 

 treaty of 1783, and under the effect of wliich these provinces have lan- 

 guished ever since, and the operation of which is fully explained in the 

 annexed report and documents. 



The commercial eagerness which characterizes the people of the United 

 States of America, aided by the spirit of their government, has for years 

 caused them to transgress the bounds defined by treaty, and exercise 

 rights over the fisheries of these colonies not ceded even by the unfor- 

 tunate convention alluded to. Their fishermen, in violation of that con- 

 vention, enter the gulfs, bays, harbors, creeks, narrow seas, and waters 

 of these colonies; they land on the shores of Prince Edward and the Mag- 

 dalen Islands, and by force, and aided by superior numbers, drive Brit- 

 ish fishermen from Banks and fishing grounds solely and exclusively 

 British, and by carrying on an unlawful intercourse with needy and un- 

 protected fishermen, induce them to violate all the laws of trade, and 

 introduce feelings and opinions destructive to the principles of a well- 

 intentioned but secluded and uninformed portion of Your Majesty's sub- 

 jects, thus demoralizing and contaminating the ignorant but loyal in- 

 habitants along our extensive shores, and most essentially injuring the 

 manufacturers of the United Kingdom, the merchants and ship-owners 

 of the empire, and the revenue of this and the other provinces. 



Your council and assembly solicit your royal attention to the address 

 of this province to His late Majesty George the Fourth (hereto annexed) 

 as prophetic of the effects of the Convention of 1818, and urge Your 

 Majesty to mark the fulfillment of its anticipations in the report of 1837. 

 Aware of the solicitude of Your Majesty for the happiness and welfare 

 of your faithful North American subjects, your council and assembly 

 humbly pray encouragement and protection of their commerce and fish- 

 ery, and that Your Majesty will order small armed vessels to cruise on 

 the coasts of these colonies to prevent such encroachments, or direct 

 two steamboats to be added to the fleet on this station, to resort to the 

 various fishing-grounds during the season. And the legislature will 

 cause depots of fuel to be provided for them at the provincial expense. 

 Confident that Your Majesty, considering the foregoing facts, and mark- 

 ing the character of the times, will adhere to the enlightened policy - 

 which has distinguished your illustrious house, and extend to your 

 faithful and loyal subjects of Nova Scotia that protection of their inter- 

 ests which they ask as Britons, and which may prove consistent with 

 the claims of other portions of Your Majesty's extensive dominions. 



In council, lilid March, 1838. 



J. B. ROBIE, 

 President of the Legislative Council, 



