MISCELLANEOUS. 1277 



vessel over the sea between Nova Scotia and Cape Breton can, of 

 itself, harm no one. This sea, be it understood, is very narrow, not 

 exceeding, in some parts, one mile in breadth. 



Having thus stated the case, we will illustrate the doctrine main- 

 tained by the crown lawyers, by one exactly parallel in all its points. 

 The "McLane arrangement" in 1830, disposed of many of the diffi- 

 culties which, from the peace of 1783, had embarrassed our intercourse 

 with the colonies, and under its terms colonial vessels have freely used 

 the straits, passages, and harbors of our entire coast. Thousands of 

 these vessels visit our ports annually; and the "in-shore" voyage is 

 invaluable to them during the stormy and boisterous months of the 

 year. Every merchant engaged in navigation is aware that, as a class, 

 the small vessels built in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are far 

 inferior to our own. To say nothing of the want of skill and sobriety 

 in some of the masters, and nothing of the weak and misshapen hulls 

 of many of the colonial craft, it may be remarked that a proportion of 

 such as are employed in the transportation of wood and gypsum are 

 fitted with the cast-off sails and cordage of timber-ships. To "dodge 

 along shore" is the only safe course for these vessels to pursue, as none 

 can deny. To allow them to do so, is but an act of common human- 

 ity. To deny them the "boon," would be to involve many in certain 

 destruction. 



And now, suppose that the legislature of Maine should remonstrate 

 to our government on the subject, and insist that the people of that 

 State suffer great wrong, because colonial vessels, when bound to 

 Portland, Boston, and other northern ports, instead of keeping broad 

 off at sea, "hug the shore" and pass through Edgemaroggin and 

 Moosepeck Reaches, over Bass-harbor bar, through Fox Island 

 thoroughfare, and between Monhegan and the main land. Suppose, 

 too, that the legislatures of New York and Connecticut should join the 

 frontier State and demand the exclusion of British vessels from Long 

 Island Sound? Suppose, further, that finally the Attorney General of 

 the United States should submit an opinion to the President, in which 

 he should say that no stipulations giving the right to navigate these 

 straits and this sound exist, either in the treaty of 1783, in Jay's 

 treaty in 1794, in the treaty of peace in 1814, in the treaty of commerce 



anchorage duty. As almost all of our vessels visit the island, this new duty about 

 doubles the tax upon them. And again, if any of our vessels are driven by stress of 

 weather into Miramichi, and some of the other ports on the main land, the anchorage 

 duty, light-duty, port charges, &c., &c., are put upon them to the amountof $20 more. 

 Now, is this right? The Nova Scotia vessels which visit our harbors are subjected 

 to port charges, amounting, for a vessel under one hundred tons, to only $4 50. Why 

 should our vessels, for merely passing through their waters, be subjected to so heavy 

 a tax, while their vessels who visit us for the purpose of trading have the benefit of our 

 light-houses, and only pay a trifling sum for port charges? 



"It is said that the light-duty paid by our vessels is for the support of their light- 

 houses. But what are those light-houses? There are two poor hgnts at the Gut of 

 Canso, but none on the coasts visited by the fishermen, except, we believej at Gaspe. 

 There is no light on the whole northern coast of Prince Edward Island, which ia most 

 visited by our fishermen during the stormy months of September and October, when 

 the lights are most needed. Our fishing-vessels alone pay light-duty sufficient to 

 have the coast well lighted. 



"The officers who collect these duties admit that they are unjust: but still they say 

 their government must impose them. And how are they collected? The officers at 

 the island offer to take most anything when the captain hesitates about paying the 

 specie; they will take molasses, pork, and even oil clothes! This is a nice way to 

 smuggle in the goods." 



