1790 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



storm happeuing between 1850 and 1860, I should judge either that this 

 is a misprint for October, 1851, or that the storm actually took place in 

 1852, for no two storms succeeded one another in 1851 and 1852. The 



letter is as follows : 



CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, 

 Province of Nova Scotia, October 28, 1852. 



SIR : Since my return from Charlotte Town, where I had the honor of an interview with 

 your excellency, my time has been so constantly employed in the discharge of official duties 

 connected wiih the results of the late disastrous gale, so severely felt on the north side of 

 Prince Edward Island, that I have not found time to make my acknowledgments to your 

 excellency for the kind and courteous reception extended to me at the government house, 

 nor to furnish you with my views relative to some improvements which might be made by 

 vour excellency's government, thereby preventing a similar catastrophe to the one which 

 has so lately befallen many of my countrymen ; and at the same time on behalf of the Gov- 

 ernment of the United States, which I have the honor to represent, to thank you most 

 feelingly for the promptness and energy displayed by your excellency iu issuing proclama- 

 tions, whereby the property of the poor ship-wrecked mariner should be protected from 

 pillage. 



These various duties devolving upon me, I now have the pleasure of discharging, but only 

 in a brief and hurried manner. 



The effect of the recent visitation of Providence, although most disastrous in its couse- 

 quences, will yet result in much good. 



In tbe first place, it has afforded the means of knowing the extent and value of fisheries 

 on your coast, the number of vessels and men employed, and the immense benefit which 

 would result to the people within your jurisdiction, as well as those of the United States, if 

 the fishermen were allowed unrestrained liberty to fish in any portion of your waters, and 

 permitted to land for the purpose of curing and packing. 



From remarks made by your excellency, I am satisfied it is a subject which has secured 

 your most mature reflection and consideration, and that it would be a source of pride and 

 pleasure to your excellency to carry into successful operation a measure fraught with so 

 much interest to both countries. 



"2. It has been satisfactorily proved, by the testimony of many of those who escaped from 

 a watery grave in the late gales, that had there been beacon-lights upon the two extreme points 

 of the coast, extending a distance of 150 miles, scarcely any lives would have been lost, and 

 but a small amount of property been sacrificed. And I am satisfied, from the opinion ex- 

 pressed by your excellency, that the attention of your government will be early called to 

 the subject, and that but a brief period will elapse before the blessing of the hardy fishermen 

 of New England and your own industrious sons will be gratefully returned for this most 

 philanthropic effort to preserve life and property, and for which benefit every vessel should 

 contribute its share of light-duty. 



3. It has been the means of developing the capacity of many of your harbors, and expos- 

 ing the dangers attending their entrance and the necessity of immediate steps being taken 

 to place buoys in such prominent positions that the mariner would in perfect safety flee to 

 them in case of necessity, with a knowledge that these guides would enable him to be sure 

 of shelter and protection. 



From the desire manifested by your excellency previous to my leaving Charlottetown, 

 that I would freely express my views relative to the.recent most melancholy disaster, and 

 make such suggestions as might in my opinion have a tendency to prevent similar results, 

 there is no occasion for my offering an apology for addressing you at this time. 

 I have, &c,, 



B. H. NORTON, 



fnited States Consul fur Pictou Dependency. 

 His Excellency Sir A. BANNERMAN, &c. 



^ Bear in mind that an offlcial letter, written in the year 1864 by Mr. 

 Sherman, the then American consul at Charlottetown, was put in evi- 

 dence by the United States Agent; and Mr. Foster con tended with much 

 force that th.i statements in that letter should be treated as thoroughly 

 trustworthy, because the writer could have had 110 object iu misleading his 

 >wn government. 1 accede to that view. No doubt Mr. Sherman be- 

 lieved in the truth of all he wrote. It is for you to say on the evidence 

 rhetber or not he WHS correct in point of fact. Apply Mr. Foster's 

 ling to Consul Norton's letter, and are not the value of the Prince 

 Bland inshore fisheries, and the value to American fishermen 

 the light-houses and harbors since built and constructed around her 

 shores, proved by the best of all evidence ? As regards the inshore 



