1482 AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



ince, and for the efficient measures adopted by Your Majesty's Govern- 

 ment to guard those fisheries during the past season from wanton 

 aggression : 



The fishermen of the United States, stimulated by a large bounty, 

 and protected by a duty of twenty per cent, on British-caught fish, 

 have been placed in the most favorable position both as regards their 

 own and foreign markets, yet, not content with these advantages, they 

 constantly encroach upon the coast fisheries of these North American 

 colonies, 'any participation in which was expressly relinquished and 

 renounced by the Convention of 1818. 



In the commercial transactions between these provinces and the United 

 States the latter possess other decided advantages. Their manufactures 

 are admitted into the provinces at the same rates of duties as are charged 

 on British merchandise. Thecolouial legislatures, contrary to their wishes 

 and feelings, have been restricted from imposing discriminating duties. 

 While the merchandiseof the United States is admitted into this province 

 at a duty of eight and a half per cent, ad valorem, the products of New- 

 Brunswick are subject, upon importation to the United States, to duties 

 at an average of from twenty to thirty per cent. ; while American ships 

 freely trade between colony and colony, and from England to her distant 

 possessions in Australasia and India, colonial vessels cannot pass from 

 one American port to another, as from Boston to New York, or from the 

 Atlantic ports of the United States to California or Oregon ; while colo- 

 nial ships cannot be sold in the United States or obtain registers there, 

 vessels and steamers built in those States are sold in these colonies, and 

 American-built steamers are at this moment plying on the inland waters 

 of this province with British registers. 



The manifestations of an enlarged and liberal policy by Your Majesty's 

 Government have not been met in the same spirit by the Government 

 of the United States ; and we therefore earnestly entreat that Your Maj- 

 esty will preserve inviolate the rights and privileges of your attached 

 subjects in these provinces, as secured to them by existing treaties, and 

 will not concede any further or greater privileges to foreign fishermen 

 than they now enjoy without first granting your loyal subjects a hear- 

 ing thereupon. 



The protection granted by Your Majesty's vessels of war has this year 

 enabled colonial fishermen to enjoy their shore fisheries undisturbed and 

 in a profitable manner. We therefore humbly entreat that Your Majesty 

 will be pleased to continue such protection as one of the greatest boons 

 to the North American fisheries, because thereby they will be freed from 

 foreign aggression, and may be prosecuted extensively with great bene- 

 fit and advantage to Your Majesty's devoted subjects. 



WILLIAM BLACK, 

 President of Legislative Council. 



WILLIAM CRANE, 

 Speaker of tJie House of Assembly. 



NOVEMBER 1, 1852. 



