1464 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION 



they observed her to have in tow. On their demanding it, they were 

 told to be off or they would sink them. The shore boat was close 

 enough to discern the name of the schooner, and the port she belonged 



to. 



Captain Tait and his crew were busily employed landing all they could 

 from the wreck, but as there were no less than forty-eight sail of Amer- 

 ican fishermen close in upon the reef, he was under continual apprehen- 

 sion that some of their crews would land and plunder what he had saved. 



It is certainly high time that some means were adopted to put an end 

 to such depredations on our coasts, and for the protection of the fisher- 

 ies from the Americans. A few days ago there were a number of them 

 in the harbor of Richmond Bay carrying on their avocation. 



No. 8. 



Copy of a dispatch from Lieutenant- Governor Sir J. Harvey to Lord 



Glenelg. 



GOVERNMENT HOUSE, 



Fredericton, March 19, 1839. 



' My LORD : I have the" honor herewith to transmit to your lordship 

 copy of a report of the House of Assembly of this province, relative to 

 the encroachme'uts which continue to be made on the fishing grounds of 

 this province. A copy of this report will also be transmitted by me to 

 the naval commander-in chief upon this station, and to Her Majesty's 

 minister at Washington. 

 1 have, &c., 



J. HARVEY. 

 The Right Hon. LORD GLENELG, tfcc., <fcc., &c. 



[Inclosure in No. 8.] 



HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, 



March 18, 1839. 



The select committee, to whom was referred that part of the petition of Wilford 

 Fisher, James Chaftey, J. Snell, esquires, and 181 others, of the parishes of Grand Manan, 

 West Isles, and Carupo Bello, in the county of Charlotte, relating to the encroachments 

 which continue to be made on the fishing grounds of this province by vessels of the 

 neighboring states, report: 



That the affidavits of ten credible persons, residents of Grand Manan, sundry certifi- 

 cates of the overseers of the fisheries of the same island, with a mas of other evidence, 

 have been laid before your committee, and had most deliberate consideration from them. 

 That it manifestly appears that the aggressions so often complained of, and so fre- 

 quently brought under the notice of the legislature of this province, not only have not 

 ceased, but have actually increased, to a degree which calls loudly for the immediate 

 inter]K>sition of government. 



It distinctly appears, from the affidavits and certificates, that from ten to twenty sail 

 of American fishing- vessels are almost continually to be found at anchor, catching fish, 

 within one mile of the shores of Grand Manau, in audacious violation of the rights of 

 the people of this province, and in open and avowed defiance of any force which the 

 inhabitants could possibly bring against them. That those persons, restrained by no 

 fishery regulations, either Hritish or American, carry on their lawless practices in a most 

 reckless manner, to the great and lasting injury of the fisheries; and that they do not 

 hesitate to have recourse to violence in repelling the fishermen of Grand Manna from 

 their own fishing-grounds, by means of which, and of many other outrages, this valua- 

 ble source of provincial wealth is almost wholly wrested from its natural possessors. 



It baa been satisfactorily shown to your committee thac the overseers of the fisheries 

 of Grand Manan. in the due execution of their public duty, have frequently endeavored 



