The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-09

on EASTERN RELATIONS.
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Inttting Documents Relating TO the
F1shcEies.
We've been favored, in advance, with copies Of
docuJts that are about to be laid before the Lee
gislae Of Nova Scotia, relative to the fisheries.
ThefOnsst of official letters on the subject, from
the me government, the Lieut.. Governor Of Nova
SEQ, and from Admiral Seymour; also, the report
of n. Campbell, Of II. NJ s. Devastation, and
the of the masters of two Of the revenue vessels
fit out for their protection together with the in
stctions under which they acted.
ONE of these interesting documents, or at least
q substance Of Them have already appeared in the
<umns of the HERALD, whish, Of course, we shall
ass over; and the first to which we shall call atten-
ion, is letter from the officer administering the GO
vernment Of Nova Scotia to the Admiral, stating
that the importance Of protecting the reserved fish
ing grounds has of late assumed degree of i'm
portance, from the growth of the colonial marine, Of
which the produce Of the fisheries forms the staple ex-
port and from the refusal of the American govern
ent, while its citizens annually swarm upon these
reserved grounds, to reciprocate the commercial
privileges conferred by imperial legislation; and
that in consequence of this state Of things agree
ment for mutual cooperation between the three pro-
vinces had been entered into by their delegates at
Toronto, in Canada in June, 1861 and informing him
of the equipment of provincial cruisers asking for ad
vice. and stating that the object which the Imperial
and Provincial governments have in view, is the
efficient protection of valuable national resource in
spirit of frmness and prudence, which would not
endanger by any rash or illadvised act, the peace
between two kindred and friendly nations
Then follows the commission and instruction to
the masters Of the revenue vessels who are thereby
authorized, when they find foreign vessels fishing
contrary to treaty within three miles of the coast Of
Nova Scotia to take means to secure and send them
in for trial. with the necessary proof and to use COM
pusory means, II necessary, to effect this;' but re-
sort to force 1t IS stated, can only be justified after
every other prudent effort has failed" Some of these
revenue officers, however seem to have been disposed
to detain American vessels fishing within three
miles of q line drawn from headand to headland;
but, upon o representation from the Admiral they
were enjoined by the provincial government to re-
frain from molesting vessels found fishing beyond
three miles from the coast, to which distance their
powers under the provincial act only extended
The Admiral, after inspecting the vessels that
were fitted out, stated that they were not sufficiently
armed, and that their crews, instead of fifteen men,
should be increased to thirty giving as reason that
i" if their present weakness should induce resistance
circumstances affecting the public honor and interest
might occur and the task of future protection by
vessels employed in the colonial service, would be
rendered more difficult" To which the Governor
replied that he was not without hope as the season
approached when the mackerel fishers from the
United States congregate in the Gulf of st. Law
renee that it might be in his power SO to strengthen
the crews Of the provincial vessels as to render abor
tive any unlawful attempt Of trespass to resist their
authority.
Subsequently, at the request Of the Admiral the
commission Of the peace was given to Com. Camp
bell, similar to that which it was recommended to
confer On the senior naval officer employed near
Belleisle by the Queens commissioner for negotat
ing with the French government as to the New.
foundland fisheries, who was empowered, In the
Queens name, "to cause to come before him all those
who-to any one or more of her people, concerning
their bodies or firing their houses, destroying or
iDjuring their goods-have used threats and to re-
quire them to find security for keeping the peace,
for their good behavior towards her and her peo-
pie"
Then follows q return Of the vessels which had
been seized since 1917, together with description
of where found fishing, which appeared in the HE-
RAID at the time. The next document il Com
Campbell's report, o summary Of which we must take
another occasion to publish, owing to its length; and
which is a, document Of no ordinary importance,
drawn up with much ability, and from personal
observation, extending from the southern coast Of
Nova Scotia to the Straits Of Belleisle which de-
scrbes the Americans as coming on the coast
-, e Roo ocho Cant nolv ole
states that the American fishermen deserve
great deal of praise. Their vessels" he says "aro
of the very best description, beautifully rugged,
sailing remarkably fast, well found in every parti
cular, and carrying large crews-a great many Of
whom are men from the Provnces-there being
only four or FIVE British vessels engaged in the fish
cry that can compare with them" He represents
the American fishermen as landing cargoes, in the
outports of Nova Scotia Of behring's caught at the
Magdalen Islands, and again fitting out for another
voyage, without reporting to the nearest collector,
or bonding their fish; and as frequently landing
freight without reporting their vessels.
Abundant testimony is afforded of the generally
orderly conduct Of the crews of American fishing
vessels that boarded; and Captain DAILY states
that he only found one instance where master re.
fused to move having requested him to do so on
three different days. Ultimately he gave him an
hour to get under weigh, and in the meantime, went
to report the circumstance to Captain Cochrane, Of
II. NJ. s. Sappho, who approved of his conduct: but
on returning, he found the vessel had sailed At
another time, be boarded the schooner Leonard Nc
Kenzie, Of Gloucester, commanded by native of No
va Scotia, which he suspected had been fishing about
a mile from the shore, the crew Of which vessel
threatened to throw him overheard. He took the
vessel into Port Hood, however, but did not find suf
fcient cause to detain her. Ordinarily, when Anne
rcan fishing vessels were boarded, although courteous
and ready in their answers, they still showed great
reluctance to move off, and would spend several days
in lowering about the coast, hoping to elude the
revenue cruisers. Upwards Of fifty vessels were
boarded by him, about the Straits Of Canso and Port
IIood hetuaen The 9ad Of Annnsf and dfh of sanfa,