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taDifibatantsand'famiishmg women and children. If the abstract rigbl 

 exist to close Caaso in time of peace against vessels under sail, it 

 belongs to the same class of inhuman rales of the international code. 

 "The English," says Montesquieiij "have 'made the protection of 

 fm;dgn merchants one of the articles of their national liberty." I com- 

 mend the sentiment to the consideration of the English crown lawyers. 



But let us take a practical view of the question before us. The 

 peninsula of Nova Scotia is bounded on the northeast by the strait, or 

 "gut," of whidi we are speaking, and is separated by it from the large 

 island of Cape Breton^ To save the long, difficult, and at some times 

 of the year the dangerous voyage round this island, our vessels aie in 

 the constant practice of passing through Canso. The strait is lighted; 

 and our flag contributes liberally to support all the light-houses on the 

 coast. The "light-nioney" exacted is, indeed, so enormous — the 

 benefit afforded considered — ^that our ship-owners complain of the ex- 

 actions contiaually.* It is apparent at a glance that the sailing of a 

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

 itself, harm no one. This sea, be it understo6d, 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 fireely used 



* The United States consul at Pictou, Nova Scotia, thus wrote to Mr. Forsytli, Secretaiy 

 of State, in 1839 : " The tax of six and two-thirds cents per ton register of shipping, collected 

 by the proTinqe of NoTa Scotia at the Strait of Canso, is levied on British as well as foreigji 

 ships ; but it becomes a heavy charge on American vessels making four or five trips a year to 

 this port, in the coal ti-ade ; and as there is no impost on shipping in American ports for the 

 support of lights on the coast of the United States, such atax on American vessels in th<3 

 ports, of the-Britisb colonies involves a disenepance in the terms of intercourae between the 

 two countries, although it professes to be based on strict reciprocity." 



The Gloucester Telegraph, a paper which is authority on all matters comnected with the 

 fisheries, contained the following article, August, 1852 : 



" Light duty at the bay, — One of the most grievous things which our fishermen have to 

 submit to at the Bay of St. Lawrence, is the payment of a light-duty. Our vessels have for 

 years been obliged to pay this duty at the Gut of Canso, which is a tax upon the town of 

 <}loucester alone of $1,000 a year. This year every vessel which visits thd harbor of Prince 

 Edward Island is obliged' to pay another tax, which is called 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 amount of $20 more. Now, is this right ? The Nqva Scotia vessels which visit 

 our harbors arc subjected to port charges, amounting, for a vessel under one hundred tons, to 

 only $4 50. Why should our vessels, for merely passing through thpir waters, be subjected 

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

 »f 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 lights at the Gut of Canso, hut none 

 on the coasts visited by the fishermen, except, we believe, at Gaspe. There is no light on the 

 whole northern coast of Prince Edward Island, which is most visited by oar fishermen dur- 

 ing the stormy months of September and October, when the lights are most needed. Our 

 fishing-vessels alone pay light-duty suflicient to have the coast well lighted. 



" The oflieers 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 wj 

 taie itiolasees, pork, and even oil clothes.' This is a nice way to smuggle ia the goods.*' 



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