1476 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



show that it is desirable in point of economy, that smaller vessels should 

 be substituted for the protection of the North American fisheries, and 

 of a light draft of water, which would enable them to enter the harbors 

 to which the fishing vessels usually resort. 



Their lordships will observe in Commander Campbell's abstract of 

 the deficiencies in the papers of the English vessels, the explanation he 

 offers of the cause of their detention at Port Hood ; but the result of his 

 proceedings proves the case would have been more judiciously settled by 

 one or two examples of seizure, and by a representation of the general 

 irregularities in the documents of the vessels, which would have enabled 

 the colonial government to have met the evil in another season, instead 

 of adopting the course he pursued on that occasion. 



I shall transmit copies of the report to the Earl of Elgin, and to the 

 lieutenant-governors of the British Provinces, to point out the position 

 which Commander Campbell considers most favorable to the develop- 

 ment and extension of the fisheries. 

 I have, &c., 



G. F. SEYMOUK, 

 Vice- Admiral and Commander-in- Chief. 



The SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY, 



&C. &C. &C. 



[Inclosnre No. 1 in No 20.] 



HER MAJESTY'S STEAMSHIP DEVASTATION?, 



Halifax, November 10, 1852. 



SIR : I have the honor to state, that having in pursuance of your orders arrived in 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence, for the protection of British fisheries, on the 20th of May, I 

 visited the principal fishing-stations along the coast, from time to time, and beg to for- 

 ward a report of my observations while on that service. 



Up to the middle of July there was no encroachment by the Americans on the fish- 

 ing-grounds ; the cause is that the inducement does not present itself until the com- 

 mencement of the mackerel-fishing, about that time, when they arrive in great numbers. 



There is no part of the gulf where fish of all kinds abound more than on the shores 

 of Prince Edward's Island ; it is, however, extraordinary, but no less true, that during 

 the summer months a vessel may in fine weather pass along the whole shore without 

 seeing twenty boats, until arriving off" the North Point, where a considerable fishery 

 has been lately established at Tignish, a well-chosen station ; for having boats on each 

 side of the point, they can even in strong winds have shelter on either side, and have 

 this year succeeded well. 



It is to be hoped that this will be an encouragement for enterprise on other parts of 

 the coast, for it is indeed to be lamented that so much wealth should be lost to the 

 island ; true it is, that from position and soil, Prince Edward's Island may be called 

 the garden of North America, and that the people are principally engaged in agri- 

 cultural pursuits ; but having the one advantage, they seem to overlook the additional, 

 and certainly the greater one, of a coast teeming with fish, an advantage which in less 

 favored lands is counterbalanced by a sterile and unfruitful soil. 



If appreciated sufficiently to arouse exertion, the wealth of that island, through 

 its fisheries, might be great ; this would immediately provide the circulation of money 

 now so much required. 



During July, when the mackerel strike in, the Americans arrive in their very fine 

 schooners in pursuit of them. The fish are only to be taken close along the shore, so that 

 if they do not encroach they must be unsuccessful; in former years I am assured these 

 vessels have been in the habit of taking away two, and sometimes three, cargoes from 

 the gulf, and as from the 1st August to 7th October, in fine weather, you cannot run 

 the north shore down without seeing 100 United States fishing-vessels, sometimes 150, 

 which carry on an average 500 barrels, worth say at least 200 sterling per vessel. 

 Supposing only that 100 vessels fill up once, the smallest possible estimate of the value 

 taken away annually from the coast of that island alone is 100,000 sterling. The 

 mackerel as the season advances are both more numerous, and of a finer quality; 

 indeed the spring fish are very poor, and it would add greatly to the value of the fish- 

 eries if they were not taken early. 



