AWARD OP THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 1791 



fisheries, the consul had no object in overestimating their value in any 

 way to the governor of the island that owned them, or to the govern- 

 ment that alone, of all the governments of the world, sought entrance 

 into them as against the rightful owners. Now, what does he say : 



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 opin- 

 ion expressed 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 ves- 

 sel should contribute its share of light-duty. 



This is a very different opinion from that of Mr. Trescot very differ- 

 ent, indeed. All these light-houses, and many more than ever Mr. 

 Xorton dreamed of, have since been built. Before they were built, Mr. 

 Norton says that such erection would prove of the greatest value to 

 future American fishermen, and that not only their blessings would be 

 poured on the heads of those who should erect them, but he even 

 pledged them to go a step further and part with that which they are 

 less disposed to bestow than blessings a little money. The light-dues 

 have long since been abandoned. 



Mr. FOSTER. "When ? 



Mr. THOMSON. They were abandoned in 1807. It has been so stated 

 in evidence, and it is in the minutes. From that time to the present 

 there have been no light-dues collected at all. 



He goes on to say : 



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 rlee to 

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

 of shelter and protection. 



There is the opinion of a disinterested man at that time, or rather of 

 a man who was directly interested in getting these light-houses erected, 

 for which we now ask them to pay us a fair share during the twelve 

 years they are to be kept up for their fishermen. We could not ask 

 it before, although the fishermen were in the body of the gulf, and 

 had the advantage of them. But when they come on equal terms with 

 our own subjects into our territorial waters, why should they not bear 

 a portion of the territorial burdens ? Is it not monstrous to argue 

 against it ? 



Mr. FOSTER. Does it not appear in your evidence that you charged 

 the American fishing vessels light-dues from the time they came into 

 your harbors, or passed through the Strait of Canso, until such time as 

 you saw fit to abolish them, having collected enough to pay for them T 



Mr. THOMSON. They have been abolished since 1807, as regards the 

 Gut of Canso, if my memory does not deceive me very much. Wo have 

 in the evidence of that very amusing gentlemen, Mr. Patillo, a descrip- 

 tion of the way they were evaded. To this evidence I shall refer here- 

 after. 



I think that I have now shown conclusively that this port of 

 British case is entitled to serious and favorable consideration at i 

 hands of your honors I mean this question of the lights. 



I come to another part of Mr. Trescot's argument, which I 

 be found on page 59 : 



I have but one other consideration to suggest before I come to the history ol 

 tion, and it is this: If yon will examine the treaties, you will find that eve 



