53 



In 1771, the number of souls at Newfoundland was 8,449 Englisn, 

 and 3;348 Irish. In 1775, merchants "at home" were encouraged to 

 continue their adventures, by an act of Parliament, which allowed a 

 bounty of £40 to the first twenty-five ships, £20 to the next hundred, 

 and £10 to the second hundred, that should make fares of fish before 

 the middle of July, and proceed to "the banks" for a second lading. 



Lord North's bill to prohibit the people of New England from fishing 

 at Newfoundland, which was passed in the year last named, wiU be 

 noticed particularly elsewhere. 



During the discussion pending these measures — the one to " encour- 

 age," the other to "starve" subjects of the realm — Martineaux Shuld- 

 ham, who had been governor of Newfoundland three years, was exam- 

 ined at the bar of the Commons. The material part of his testimony 

 may be thus stated; that the catch of fish in 1774 was 739,877 quin- 

 tals, and that 23,652 men were ernployed in the fishery, all of whom 

 became sailors. 



With regard to the fishermen of New England, he said that few of 

 them ever entered the British navy; that he had heard great complaints 

 of the outrages they conlmitted on the coast ; that they carried on an 

 iMicit trade with the French, meeting them on the sea and selling them 

 not only provisions and lumber, but vessels also ; and that, in the French 

 war, few of them had served in his Majesty's ships-of-war. 



At the peace of 1783, the English Newfoundland fishery — inteiTupted 

 by hostiKlies — was resumed with spirit, and prosecuted with success ; 

 and three years after, the bounty act of 1775 was renewed for a speci- 

 fied term. The condition of the colonists remained, however, without 

 material change. I find it stated that a gentleman formerly connected 



transatlantic fishing vessels, having more numerous crews, constitutes a statistical difference 

 amounting to 26,000 sailors against England, without including the United States — a feet that 

 ought not, and, being known, cannot be looked on with indifference. 



Transatlantic steam-packets receive national support, iimounting to hundreds of thousands 

 of pounds a year, without complaint being made even by the most zealous fi-ee-trade advocate, 

 because such vessels may prove useful in war. How, th^n, can the policy of granting a pr«- 

 biium, thus forced upon us, in order to preserve our nursery for seamen, be considered other- 

 wise than the cheapest means of manning our ships-of-war 1 Such premium, for the deep-seit 

 fishery vessels resorting ,to Europe, ought to be accompanied by immunity to our in-shore 

 colonial fishermen from the tax on foot, (from which the parent State is happily free,) and by 

 a release from other imposts, from which the French fisherman, under naval authority, B 

 wholly exempt. 



Brevity being essential to admittance into your columns, reference may be made for im- 

 jiortant details to "Morris's fishery of Newfoundland," containing petitions and remonstrance 

 at inhabitants, which assuredly have never been read by our colonial administration, though 

 pressingly urged for consideration. 



Vessels-of-war are obviously not required for the protection of the deep-sea fishery which 

 has ceased to exist; nor are they necessary for the security of the undisturbed colonial punts 

 which fish in-shore. The stationing more vessels-of-Wat to guard the fishery is therefore a 

 mistake, originating in a want of knowledge of facts. Pish caught by the British subjects 

 pannot be sold with profit either in continental Europe or in the United States. In 1849, the 

 duty paid on British fish inthe ports of the United States was $163,000, while the premium 

 awarded to their own fishermen *as $243,432. 



Those who desire further insight into the circumstancies pf our western colonies, espeoialy 

 as regards the fisheries of Newfoundland, may consult a pamphlet published by Eidgway, con- 

 taining a statistical map, which ought to be brought to the knowledge of those who possess 

 the power to avert impending nafional mischiefs. 



I am, sir, your often obliged and obedient servant, 



DUNDONALD. 



LoHDOH. August 4. 



