MISCELLANEOUS. 1081 



Captain Dodd to Provincial Secretary Howe. 



PORT HOOD, CAPE BRETON, August 29, 



SIR: Since my report of the 23rd I have been down the eastern 

 shore, and returned to Port Hood on the 29th. On Friday last T had 

 the honor of seeing the Admiral on board H. M. S. Basilisk, off Port 

 Hood Island, and received from him a copy of two statements made 

 by American fishermen, with reference to information said to have 

 been given by me. 



1st. Kr. W. Armistead, Master of the IT. S. Schr. " Agenora" of 

 Frankfort, states that, about the 27th of July last, he went on board 

 the Schr. " Responsible" and was informed by her Commander, that 

 if he found him fishing within three marine miles of a line drawn 

 from Cape Gaspe to the north point of Prince Edward Island, he 

 would seize his vessel. 



2nd. William Page, Master of the U. S. Schr. " Paragon" of New- 

 buryport, stated to Mr. Sutton, that, on or about the 23rd day of 

 July, he was informed by the Commander of the Schr. " Responsible" 

 that he would draw a line from headland to headland on any part of 

 the Coast of Nova Scotia, and seize any vessel he found fishing within 

 three marine miles of such a line. 



These statements I have copied verbatim, and although not called 

 upon to answer them, I still think it my duty to do so. The first is 

 altogether false ; there has not been any American Captain on board 

 the Schr. " Responsible" since I have had charge of her, except a 

 Captain Dixpn, of the Schooner Empire, which vessel was repairing 

 at that time in the Strait of Canso ; and again, on the twenty-seventh 

 of July, the Schooner Responsible was coming up from Margaree 

 Island, both which facts can be attested to if required by half the 

 Ship's Company; and as I had nothing to do at Prince Edward's 

 Island, it is scarcely probable, I should have made any Statement 

 with reference to any lines to be drawn on that Coast. 



The assertion of William Page, Master of the Schooner Paragon, 

 may be correct, for I did to several American Captains (and he may 

 have been one of them) say, that I should draw a line from the head- 

 lands of the Coast and Bays of Cape Breton, and seize all American 

 Vessels found trespassing within three marine miles of such line ; and 

 such are my intentions until further orders, as I consider myself 

 bound to do so by my instructions, in which I am referred to the 

 Convention of 1818; and as it would be great presumption in me to 

 attempt to put any construction on that Treaty, I feel myself bound 

 by the opinions of the Queen's Advocate, and Her Majesty's Attorney 

 General, given in 1841; and also by the result of the trial of the 

 American Schooner Argus, which vessel was seized by me within a 

 line drawn from Cow Bay Head to Long Point, near Cape North, 

 Cape Breton, and condemned. 



As the Halifax and Daring are about this part of the Coast, I shall 

 proceed through the Strait of Canso, and down the South Shore of 

 Cape Breton, and return by Cape North, 



I have the honor to remain, Sir, 

 Your obedient Servant, 



P. S. DODD. 



The Honorable the PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, &c., &c., &c, 



