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 Photogi^cipliic 
 Sciences 
 
 K-iKJl pOi tilil/i i 
 
 33 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER N Y I4S80 
 
 ( 716 « 877.4S03 
 
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 2 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
k7 
 
 A VIEW 
 
 01" Till. 
 
 llISE, PROGRESS, 
 
 » 
 
 A N I) 
 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 <»r TiiK 
 
 .Yewfoundland Fishery^ 
 
 WITH 
 
 SOME 1! S E 1< V A T 1 O N S 
 
 f P 
 
 103, 
 
 . V.^v'' 
 
 ON ITS 
 
 G()VER^lMEl\'I^ 
 
 ( IViL ESTABLISHMENT, 
 
 lli:VENl'E, 
 
 Cr^ 
 
 AM) 
 
 # 
 
 EXri'NDlTl RE. 
 
 .•» 
 
 I I 
 
 > 
 
 ^ POOLE 
 
 rtUNTFl) llV MOOlU: AM) ^VI>^.^MAM. 
 
 l^-2b. 
 
 
 I 
 
 « 
 
 fi 
 
 Ih 
 
/ 
 
 / 
 
71' 
 
 IU-N.UiVTlN LESTER LES'I l-U K-- >»• ^ 
 THIS VIF.W 
 
 OF THE 
 
 RuSE. PROGllESS, AND PRESl. N r STA IK 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NEWIOUNDLAND FISllI IIV. 
 IS WITH GREAT PERSONAL ESTEEM. AND 
 
 A HIGH REGARD FOR THE ZEAL AND 
 ABILITY WITH WHICH HE HAS L NIFORMLY 
 
 ENDEAVOURED TO PROMOTE ITS INTERESTS. 
 
 RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR 
 
 . . ■-A.- A ^ rf ^ ^tf*^ 
 
/ 
 
 / 
 
: 
 
 A ^ I E W, &< . 
 
 
 NfAVFOUNDLAND, on<i of the earliest discovered, 
 is yet j)erli;ips the least perfectly known of the British 
 North American possessions and althou«^h it h;\s from 
 time to time enga'.;ed much of the attention of Govern- 
 ment, still its true cha^'acter seems to have been little 
 rnxlerstood, or at least not to have had dnc consider- 
 ation in frr.miijo- and adopting arrangements for its 
 government. Tiie causes of this manifest want of 
 correct information on the subject are to be traced to 
 the discordant testimony of parties, whose conflicting 
 interests have prompted them to give contradictory 
 views of tlie soil, 'limate, and local capabilities of the 
 island, and of the social, moral, an commercial rela- 
 tions of its inhabitants, as best suited tlieir several 
 purposes, either to support or oppose such measures 
 as have been recommended to, or deemed necessary 
 to be adopted by His Majesty's Government, and the 
 imperfect information of official men, who§c transitory 
 acquaintance with the island, acquired duriug their 
 limited periodical residences, did not qualify them to 
 take an enlarged view of the subject. 
 
 B 
 
 ■VMMftVl 
 
6 
 
 Ncu foimdliind, liko cvrTv of!.rr .•oimtrv pooplrd 
 Trom a parent state, lias i)roorcyHvelv clian-ed its 
 condition and l>econie of nrreater impoVfanre "in the 
 scale of national possession, I>nt lias still preserved its 
 original character o{ a fishery, and the few le-islativr 
 Acts for its regulation and g-overnment ha^e heen 
 grounded on that view of it. 
 
 The history and progress of the adventurers 
 who first resorted to the island after its discovery, are 
 necessarily involved in obscurity ; that their object 
 and pursuits were the catching of fish there seems to 
 be no reason to doubt, as no traces of ancient settle- 
 jnent or cultivation are known to exist in any part of 
 it ; the earliest authentic records show that a fishery 
 was prosecuted on the coasts of the island by rtierchant 
 adventurers, who annually fitted out vessels in England 
 and furnished them with supplies of provisions, tackle 
 and fishermen, with which they proceeded tc New- 
 foundland in the spring of the year, and having 
 caught and cured their cargoes, returned with them 
 in the autumn. In this state of the fishery, only two 
 classes of persons were engaged, the merchant adven- 
 turer and his immediate servants, all of whom returned 
 to this country at the end of the fishing season. In 
 progress of time a third class arose consisting of fisher- 
 men and servants, who from choice or accidental cir- 
 cumstances remained on the island during the winter, 
 and by degrees became settlers and resident fisher- 
 men, distinguished by the name of plantei^, and the 
 founders of a now extended population. 
 
 li.v 
 fishing e: 
 vi'iiient h 
 in Englai 
 provisioi 
 course o 
 them to j 
 fishing v< 
 and servr 
 ;?urc diso 
 Iheir ser> 
 
 In 
 local \\\\M 
 iiient and 
 servant, a 
 ably were 
 and open 
 and we fi 
 until neai 
 when the 
 encourag 
 this Act 't 
 couragin^ 
 land, to I 
 evidently 
 enced the 
 passing tl 
 also was 
 same prii 
 the legisl; 
 
'"^C^ 
 
 i5)n;:;o(l its 
 re in the 
 ^served its 
 Ic:,n'slati\c 
 ave heeii 
 
 venturers 
 verv, are 
 ir object 
 seems to 
 lit settle- 
 ' part of 
 n fisljcry 
 merchant 
 England 
 s, tackle 
 c New- 
 having* 
 h tliem 
 •nly two 
 ■ adven- 
 eturned 
 3n. In 
 ffisher- 
 fal cir- 
 vv inter, 
 fisher- 
 nd (lie 
 
 J>v tk'i^rccs tlie inercliant udventurers formed 
 flsliiiig estaWlisljnients in the |)rinci[ial and most cjoii- 
 vniient hurboms, still continuing to fit out their ships 
 in Englantl, and to cany out the annual supply ot* 
 ])rovis;ions, .stores, and fishermen, and finding in it, 
 course of years liiat it was more cuvaiitageous for 
 them to purchase from the planter the produce of his 
 fishing voyage, than to employ themselves, fishermeu 
 and servants to catch and cure fish, they in great mea- 
 sure discontinued the practice, and the plantere and 
 iheir servants have become the principal fish catchers. 
 
 hi the early stages of the fishery a few simple 
 local lav.s or regulations were sufficient for its govern- 
 ment and to preserve the relation between master and 
 servant, and although they may have been, and prob- 
 ably were, rude and barbarous in their construction 
 and operation, still the fishery prospered and increased, 
 and we find little or no legislative notice of the island 
 until nearly two hundred years after its discovery, 
 when the Act of 10th and 11th Williabi411.- "to 
 encourage the trade to IVewfoun41and" was passed — 
 this Act was founded op .the, ancient pohcy of dis- 
 couraging residency, and considering the Newfound- 
 land, to be a ship fishery, and notwitlistanding the 
 evidently increasing population, the same views influ- 
 enced the legislature nearly fourscore years after, in 
 passing the Act of 15th Geo. III., tlie object of which 
 also was to discourage residency; and in fact the 
 same principle has in some measure prevailed in all 
 the legislative acts on the subject almost to (he pi-esent 
 
 11 
 
 \\ 
 
X 
 
 8 
 
 c!ay, and tl-i^ discorilanl jHtluy lj,i.> iia(uia!l\ Ijd'ii 
 Qltended with a want of permajjcncy and consistency 
 ill the measures of the Government. Newfonndhmd 
 Iia.s however long ceased to I)e a ship fishery, and lias 
 become a resident, and if fostered and eiicourageil, 
 still a valuable fishery. Out of this order of thinos 
 arose a fourth class of persons, not actually engaged, 
 but interested in, the fishery, a cfrtain portion of tiie 
 resident merchants, and the tradesmen of St. John's, 
 the chief town, and the scat of government of the 
 island, who keep stores and supply those engaged in 
 the fishery, and purchase from them their produce. 
 
 This latter class of })crsons having no fishing 
 establishments and being no otherwise interested than 
 in the purchase and sale of the produce of the fishery, 
 and the necessary supplies for prosecuting it, are 
 opposed in great measure both in their views and in- 
 terests to the merchant fishing establishments at the 
 Out-harbours, and it has been for some years their 
 favorite object to magnify the importance of the town 
 and trade of St. John's, and to consider it the grand 
 emporium of the island, of wliich the Out-harbours 
 arc only subordinate branches ; and in fiirtherance of 
 these views they have lost no opportunity of urging 
 the propriety, and even necessity of granting to the 
 island, all the privileges of a Colony with a legislative 
 House of Assembly, a measure, the most ruinous to it 
 as a fishery, that could be devised ; this truth the 
 advocates of the measure cannot deny, and they have 
 tliereforc in support of their favorite plan had recourse 
 
 X 
 

 
 luiallv Ijtcii 
 consistency 
 nfoundlaiid 
 ry, and li;\s 
 encouraged, 
 r of thinii.s 
 ly engaged, 
 rtioti of tlio 
 St. John's, 
 nent of the 
 engaged in 
 produce. 
 
 no fishing 
 erestied thaji 
 ' the fisherv, 
 ing jt, are 
 2WS and in- 
 lents at the 
 
 years their 
 of the town 
 t the grand 
 'ut-harboui"s 
 itherance of 
 y of urging 
 ting to the 
 a legislative 
 uinous to it 
 s truth the 
 i they have 
 ad recourse 
 
 I'l ( \nggeiated ru|Mfscntalions of the local capabilities, 
 the soil and climate, endeavouring to impress omtlic 
 mind of the public and the government, that New- 
 Ibundland, may ere lougy become a great agricultural 
 (i>\nitiy. 'J'lie fallacy of s;ich statements is too ob- 
 vious to those well acquainted with the island, to 
 need refutation or remark, were it not that tJiey are 
 calculated to mislead those who kiK>w potlii.ng of 
 Newfoundland but from ^^iC report of others. 
 
 IS' 
 
 s ♦».. 
 
 Tlie cultivation c'' Newfoundland to any impor- 
 l;int j)rc>fitable extent, is opposed by natural obstacles 
 that are .insurmountable, a thickly wooded ccvm^ry, 
 and a scanty soil every where incumbered with h^ge 
 rocks, that would never repay the enormous labour 
 and expence of clearing, and- a climate-uncongeuial 
 for the- production of the fruits of the earth. :And 
 yet the Newspapers of this country- have. recently 
 represented upon the authority of theAaofomuihfnd 
 Public Ltedgety that >* Newfoundland • (hithertci >qpi^ 
 sidered barren and' sterile). is >80on- likely 4<>l3ec^n^ 
 great agricultural country i^A' under i: the auspices of 
 the pvepent' Governor, who having himself put the 
 plough in requisition, has *^by the force of hiis sex- 
 ample so stimulated others, that there are now to be 
 seen on every hand corn fields springing up a* i/* 
 by tnagicy in the place of woods and forests.'* 
 
 Those acquainted with the country know-such 
 representations to be altogether fallacious, and consider 
 them to be mischievous — that the Governor may have 
 
 
««^ 
 
 10 
 
 promoted and encouraged llie cultivation of the soil 
 ill tlie immediate vicinity of Sf. Jolm's, isjRrlmps not 
 to be disputed, but that witljin the short period of his 
 government such extraordinary changes have taken 
 place as those represented in the statement alluded to, 
 is not the fact, and it is Avell known thai for many 
 yearj previous to the appointment of the present 
 Governor, individuals had at great labour and ex- 
 pence devoted their utmost skill and attention in vain, 
 to attain the object uhich the Nav/otmdland Public 
 Ledger endeavoui-s to make the public believ<! had 
 been accomplished in the short space of t\v^ years 
 by this mighty magician. / 
 
 If more unquestionable proofs were wanting-,. 
 \i\Q unfitness of Newfoundland fur the purposes of 
 cultivation might be inferred from tlie circuaiitance 
 that it never has been cultivated — if the soil aud cli- 
 mate are so well adapted for cultivation as the AVmj- 
 Jbundland Public Ledger would have us believe^ 
 how has it happened tliat with a population of 90,000, 
 dependent on otb( r countries for food, cultivation 
 has never been resorleil to as a source of supply — 
 the inliabitants of iNewfoundland are not insensible 
 to the advantages of a productive soil, and are as 
 much aliv; to their own interests and comforts as the 
 people of any other country, and it is a known fact 
 that there have been indivi luals who have in vain 
 efidciivourcd to obtain subsistence for themselves and 
 thdr families from the soil, in preference to the pur- 
 mula ol the Ibhery. 
 
11 
 
 11 oi' (lie soi! 
 s |)c-rlin|)s iidt 
 period of his 
 > have taken 
 U alliitjed to, 
 lai for many 
 
 the present 
 our and ex- 
 ition ill vail), 
 ^land Public 
 
 behev<! had 
 A iMjo jears 
 
 ire wanting'^ 
 purposes of 
 uixufriitaiice 
 soil aud cli- 
 is the .Veic- 
 
 us believe^ 
 II of 90,000, 
 
 cultivation 
 of supply — 
 t insensible 
 and are as 
 1 forts as tlie 
 known fact 
 avc in vain 
 mselves and 
 to the pur- 
 
 Newnuindland was originally attempted lo be 
 sdflod by moniisof riiniiers j^ranted by the Crown, 
 it l)oing- hoped that individuals would in this man- 
 lur be induced to improve it, and to promote the 
 public advantage through the medium of tlicir private 
 interest. Two buridred and fifty years have cla,isc^ 
 since the ^'-jjI cbarter ^-as granted — four other char- 
 ters were subsequently granted, the last of them after 
 a lapse of fifty-five years — it cannot reasonably be 
 believed, that if the project was feasible, some of the 
 companies to whom these charters were granted, or 
 some of their successors, would not have resorted ta 
 niltivation as a mean of improvement and a source 
 of profit and supply, and that at the present moment 
 the only appearance of cultivation which Newfound- 
 land eibibits, should be confined to ^rdeiis and 
 s|X)ts of potato ground which the iohabitahta hayc 
 cleared near their resid^nocsi except fit St. John's and 
 some other principal- settlements wherc^ the. cbnooarae 
 of inhabitants has given occasion to the feeding m 
 few beads of cattle in the woods, the enclosing a few 
 meadows, and the raising small quantities of oats and 
 bailev, the whole calculated rather to gratify the ex- 
 perimentalist, than to aftbrd any effectual supply. 
 
 The government of the island, if it may lie 
 so called, was for a Icng series of years more remark- 
 able for the discordant policy and inconsistency of its 
 measures and the feebleness of itsauthoriiy, than for its 
 visdooi or energy, and it is not surprising that it shouhl 
 have been so when it is considered that Uie authorities 
 
r 
 
 J2 
 
 of this counlry, from whom it cinanatcd, were too often 
 misled 'and embarrassed by the coiitrnchctory reprr- 
 sentations of' interested iwties, each striving,' to cirf 
 cumrent the other — by merchants and fisiieimen on 
 one hand, and planters and inliabiUmts on the other— 
 under such circumstances the High Court of Admiral- 
 ty, the Star Chamber, the Gonncil of State, the Privy 
 Council, and the Lords Commissioners for Trade, all 
 in their turn, granted commissions and issued orders 
 ^vhich were obeyed or disregarded as it suited the 
 views oi inclinations of hshi»-r admirals, justices, naval 
 commanders, ai.d others, whose 'i-ity it was to carry 
 them into execution. 
 
 Early in the seventeenth centiny a commission 
 was issued by the High Court of Admiralty, authori- 
 zing juries to be empannelled and enquiries to be 
 made respecting .abuses and disorders committee* 
 among the fishermen upon the coast ; and from- this 
 period the com.manders of the King's ships who were 
 sent out as commodores upon the station appear to have 
 exercised some authority in the government ; and in 
 the year 1708 a commis>sion was issued and directed to 
 be annually prepared to the commodore, to command 
 at land during his stay in those parts ; and in the year 
 1729 a commission was granted to the captain of His 
 INIajesty's ship Squirrel, by which he was appointed' 
 governtr of the island. 
 
 These were the steps which led to the subse- 
 quent establishment of a iVava/ Government, of wliich 
 
 the admiral and 
 for the time be! 
 title ai:d appoii 
 ment better ac 
 circumstances c 
 of which the af 
 until the year 1( 
 ed in the pereoi 
 
 The ad m 
 of the fishery w 
 as the govern r 
 before observed 
 tain of a King 
 abuses ; but th 
 ever remain in 
 Star Chamber i 
 fishery, by whic 
 be brought to E 
 and the Mayors 
 towns, were to U 
 and theVice-Adi 
 Dorset, Devon, 
 a Tenders ui sea. 
 ral was ordered 
 wai/ of jndicai 
 ^''ewfoitniUand 
 done; and the a 
 seems to iiave r 
 rals, too often tl 
 tlie naval comm 
 
13 
 
 the admiral niid coinniaiidtT in chief uiK)u tlie atatioii 
 for l!ie time being was constituted the head with the 
 title ni:d appointment of gove.nor — a form of govern- 
 ment better adapted perhaj)s, than ai.y other to the 
 circumstances of a ^A7i6';y; and under the autliority 
 of which the affairs of Newfoundland were conducted 
 until the year 1824, when a civ-I governor was appoint- 
 ed in the pei-son of Sir Tuomas Cochrane. 
 
 Tiie administration of justice in the ear)y perjio.d 
 of the fishery was of the same rude unsettled character 
 as the governm^'nt. In the year 1615, as has been 
 before observed, a commission was granted to (he cap- 
 tain of a King's ship, authpriz'ng an enquiry into 
 abu«cs ; but the proceedings of tlial early period must 
 ever remain in great obscurity. In the year 1033 the 
 hitar Chamber issued ordcra for better regidating the 
 fisiiery, by which it was directed that otfepder^ should 
 be brought to England and tried by the JEarl Ma^hal;: 
 and the Mayors of Soutliampton,Weymoqtb,^apd othft» 
 towns, \vere to take cognizance of oifencJers uppp land i 
 and theVice-Admirals in thjetcoiiptiiq^ pf §puthanipton, 
 Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall, were to proceed against 
 Tenders ai sea. In the year 1670 the Attorney Gene-" 
 ral was ordered to present to the Board of Trade some 
 ^('1/ nf judicature for the determinmg of causes at 
 Kewfoundlund, but this do- njot appear to have been 
 douo; and tlie a<hniiiistration of justice, such as it was^ 
 seems to liave remained in the hands of fishinir admi- 
 i-ala, too often the greatest aggressors ihemselves, and 
 tlie naval commanders, until the year 1729, when thcf 
 
 \ 
 
'/" 
 
 11 
 
 II 
 
 
 I, 
 ». 
 
 i 
 
 ■\ 
 
 Governor was aulhorized to appoint jiisficcs, wliirli 
 v.as accordingly (lone ; — tliis measure was however 
 violently opposed by the mercllaiits and others in the 
 island, and a contest for power arose, between the ti.-li- 
 ing admirals and justices, which continued to j)erplex 
 the gfovernment for many years ; in the year 1750 a 
 ccmmission of Oyer and Terminer was issued for 
 trying oflendei-s in Newfoundland instead of sending- 
 them to England. The judicial afl'iirs of the island 
 appear now to have gone on ([Uietly and without any 
 interruption of much importance for many years; and 
 the administration of justice remained with the com- 
 manders of the King's ships, a. ho were appointed by 
 the Governors with the title of Surrogates, and held 
 courts and iieard and determined causes (if complaint, 
 and in this way the authority of the Governor was 
 exercised very beneficially : this form of judicial pro- 
 ceeding, althougii some objections have been made to 
 it, and jierhaps with reason, would still perhaps under 
 proper regulations be the best adapted for a fishery, 
 and certainly the least expensive. The Governor also 
 held courts at St. John's to hear and deternn'ne causes 
 in open court, and in the absence of the (iovrrnor and 
 SurrOj^ates, the courts of Session and Vice-Admiralty 
 were occasionally resorted to. The Govciuor's courts 
 Avere however discontniued in the year 1782, and in 
 the year 1781) a court of Common Fleas was instituted 
 by tlie then Governor, and judges appointed; heavy 
 complaints were made by the trade against the pro- 
 ceeding>j of this court, and iti consequence a Bill 
 was brought into Parliament and passed in the year 
 
iccSj ^vlli^(I 
 Hs however 
 (tilers in the 
 ?en tlie i\>\\' 
 il to jjcrplex 
 ear 1750 a 
 I issued for 
 I of sending' 
 f the island 
 without any 
 ' vears ; and 
 itli the com- 
 ppointed by 
 s, and held 
 f complaint, 
 )vernor uas 
 judicial pro- 
 pen made to 
 rhaps under 
 ►r ajisheri/j 
 )vernor also 
 mine causes 
 Dvernor and 
 i- Ad mi rally 
 nor's courts 
 782, and in 
 as instituted 
 ted ; heavy 
 ist the pro- 
 Mice a Bill 
 in the vcar 
 
 15 
 
 1791, for instituting a court of civil jurisdiction, to 
 continue in force for one year as an experiment, and 
 the result was the passinj,' another Bill in the year 
 
 1792, for establishiny: a court some\\hat different from 
 that of the precedi/ig- year. 
 
 By this lisst act power was given to the Governor, 
 with the advice of the chief justice, "to institute courts 
 of civil jurisdiction to be called siarof/ate courts in 
 dilferent ])arts of the island as occasion shall require," 
 with power to hear and determine in a summary way 
 all suits and complaints of a civil nature. And in this 
 way the judicature of the island was conducted until 
 the year 1824, when an Act for the better adminir*"a- 
 tion of justice in Newfoundland and for other purposes 
 was passed, under tlie authority of which a superior 
 court of judicature was instituted, to be held by a 
 chief judge and two assistant judges to be appoiut^jj 
 by His Majesty. ' " : 
 
 The civil establishment under the former form 
 of naval government, did not exceed in Hs expences, 
 the revenue of the island, amounting to about ^13000 
 per annum, arising from the duties on importation of 
 wine, spirits, and molasses, the Crown rents, and from 
 licenses; the estimate annually voted by Parliament 
 was about jei2,000. The appointment of a civil 
 Governor and the creation of judges and officers by 
 the establishment of the new court of judicature 
 under the Act of 5th Geo. IV., chap. 67, havQ very 
 largely increased the civil expenditure, and it now 
 
16 
 
 I ' 
 
 «, 
 
 1 1 
 
 -I 
 
 exceeds the revenue about .£15,000 per annum, and 
 a Cill was brought into Parliament in the l.nst session 
 (1827) to provide for tlie deficiency by imposinji an 
 additional duty on rum and spirits and a duty of 2^ 
 per cent, on all goods not already liable to duty im- 
 ported into Newfoundland, but representations having 
 bisen made to His Majesty's government that the 
 fishery was not in a state to bear any further imposi- 
 tions, the measure was for the present abandoned, and 
 the usual estimate for ihe year voted ; it is however 
 t!ie intention of the government to resume the mea- 
 sure in the ensuing session of Parliament and to im- 
 pose a tax upon the island, but of wliat nature ajid to 
 what extent is not yet determined. 
 
 y 
 
 The principle, that every settlement, if an ancient 
 one, ought to provide for its own civil expenditure, 
 must be admitted, otherwise it is not worth the pro- 
 tection of the mother country ; but the expenditure 
 ought to be restrained within reasonable bounds, and 
 to be such as the means of the settlement will enable 
 it to pr . ide lor. 
 
 i' 
 
 It is admitted that under the old form of naval 
 government the expenditure was fully met by the 
 revenue raised in the island, and that the excess is 
 occasioned by the creation of new offices and other 
 circumstances under th< new establishment, the detail 
 of which includes am ng o*her charges, an annual 
 ;.llow.ince to the sh^ritf of .£4,000, to enable him to 
 pay police olhcerg, the expcnccs of the different courts, 
 
num, ami 
 ust session 
 posinji' nn 
 iify of 2J 
 dutv jm- 
 ns having 
 
 that the 
 ?r imposi- 
 'one(l,and 
 J however 
 
 the mea- 
 fid to im- 
 jre apd to 
 
 m ancient 
 penditure, 
 h the pro- 
 penditure 
 unds, and 
 'ill enahle 
 
 of naval 
 It by the 
 excess is 
 md other 
 the detail 
 u annual 
 le him to 
 nt courts, 
 
 1/ 
 
 tlie .'support of the poor, &c. ; a cliarge of j^900 for 
 the conveyance and fexpence of the judges oh the 
 circuits ; a sum of 1^2,000 per annum for the employ- 
 ment of tl>e poor in the improvement of the streets and 
 roads in St. John's and in the neighbourhood ; the 
 sum of ci2,300 for hire of a vessel for the use of the 
 Governor, and j£l,500 per annum for additional 
 salaries to the judges and la^v officers. 
 
 Although it may be difficult to pronounce upon 
 tlie necessity or expediency of this certainly heavy 
 additional expenditure, it may yet I>e allowable to 
 consider it i.i its bearing upon the fishery in its pre- 
 sent state of depression, and to compare it with the 
 civil expenditure in times of greater prosperity, as 
 M-ell as to enquire if the benefits to be derived from it 
 are commensurate with the additional burden. It 
 will not l)e denied that the fishery is in a state of de- 
 pression, almost, if not altogetlier unprecedented; and 
 that at a time when neither the resident fisheijoiaii 
 with all the advantages of 'a'rediiction in i)ie heces- 
 saries of life afforded hfm by that enlightened policy 
 that dictated the late salutary alteraition in the naviga- 
 tion laws, can without difficulty support himself and 
 his family by his labour, nor the me 'chant obtain a 
 remunerating return for his outfit and supplies, it be- 
 comes an object of vital importance to avoid every 
 expence not immediately called for, to promote the 
 welfare of that fishery. 
 
 si 
 
 n 
 
J8 
 
 I I 
 I 
 
 ;i 
 
 u 
 
 i 
 
 <r 
 
 The large annual allowance to the sliciifl- hi 
 whicli -possibli,, .a cooslderabl^ re<luclioii M,i^ht l,e 
 safely made, includes the support of ihe poor, lo ,vho,„ 
 .It appears lliat a further sum of ^2,000 is to l,e i,., 
 nu,lly, dispensed for their labour in >l,e improvement 
 ot.the streets and roads in St. John's and its nei.-h- 
 bpurbood-T«uch improvements are no doubt gratifvh- 
 to the inliabitants of St. John's, and would be credit! 
 able to them as a municipal body, bnt are by no means 
 cssennal to the real interests of .i,e fishery, or beneficial 
 to the eslabbslimcnts of Ihe out-lunboure ; by the 
 .^pulahon of which the heaviest portion of .1^ burden 
 must be borne, and to whom the advantages of tin. 
 new toaos and improved s.reete of the melronolilau 
 . _w,> are not available. If ,he n.unicipal an.hori.ies 
 K mT? ""^ o'h" lurge town i„ tbi, country 
 should thn,k proper to improve their streets and road, 
 for the purpose of employing their distressed poor 
 tiie motive, and the act, would be highly laudable, bni 
 surely ,t will not be contended that Gtagow and 
 Penzance should be called upon to pay a part of the 
 cxpence ; if it be allowed (as it has been alledged) 
 that a pornon of ,i,e distressed poor annually assembled 
 at bt. John s, h;.s been collected there from Ihe out 
 UtMbours, stdl it would seem that ^l,ooo would be an 
 Wpleallowa.ee to be dispensed in the manner pro- 
 pose4 for then relief, in addition lo ihe fund plaetil at 
 .^.e d«>posal of the sheriff, except in vean, of extn,or. 
 dn.ary emergency, when the relief must of cour^ be 
 governed by the circumslances. 
 
cs 
 
 slK'iifi', id 
 |Jli,^llt i>e 
 I', to \vIh)iii 
 i Jo be ;i!i- 
 provemeut 
 its neigli- 
 gratif)'iiig- 
 be credit- 
 no means 
 beneficial 
 ; by the 
 te burden 
 ?e» of (lie 
 tropolitaii 
 mlhorilies 
 s couiilry 
 and roadrt 
 >ed poor, 
 lable, but 
 90W. and 
 art of the 
 "Hedged) 
 ssembled 
 1 the out- 
 bid bean 
 ner pro- 
 placed at 
 extraor- 
 ourse be 
 
 19 
 
 Tlie conveyance and llie exponces of the 'Judges 
 on the circuit, and the hire of a vessel for the use bf 
 the Governor, form a part of the increased civil ex- 
 ))en(litiire, wiiicb it may be thought mi',»^!it with pro- 
 priety be dcfi-ayed out of the public puree, whenlhe 
 sivinu^ in the navy estimates, occasioned by the super- 
 seding lbs naval jrovemmehtand the expence, ofiliips 
 of war on the station, is 'taken into consideration. '' 
 
 ll ^vould be pteinaiure, perhaps, to formaii opi- 
 nion upon the increased s:ilaries of the judges ^nd 
 some other items of the additional expenditure to be 
 provided for by taxation, until greater experience has 
 been had of the new s}-stem of government and judica- 
 ture, and some more decided proofs of advantage to 
 the population b/the measure. It is certain that the 
 snrrog-ate courts, which with all their imperfections- 
 generally exercised their authority beneficially to the 
 people, were conducted comparatively at Htile ex- 
 pence ; and a large majority of the cases which' are 
 brought into a court of justice in Newfoundland are of 
 a nature that may be best disposed of by a summary 
 process, such as was practised by those courts ; and it 
 may therefore, perhaps; be with propriety questioned, 
 whclher the increased advantages are likely to com- 
 pensate for tlie incieased expence. 
 
 There is good i-^ason to believe lliat the expenditure 
 of the island will continue to increase ; amongst other 
 sources of expence there is a house for (be Governor in 
 progress of building, and to be fini.<hcd on a scale ih.jt 
 
 f m f -v 
 
.-^■^ ^J 
 
 20 
 
 i / 
 
 r 
 
 must necessarily requirea largesuii), and the fitting u\} 
 and fprnishing of which in a cone^^pondent stile must 
 occasion further demands ;— that such a ])uil(ling is 
 requisite cannot be denied, if a Governor be requircil 
 to keep up o vice-regal state, and to assume the man- 
 ners of a court, and the splendor of sovereign authority; 
 but under the old naval government, a comfortable, 
 commodious, and respectable Government-house was 
 deemed, and found, tobesr.aicient for the residence of 
 the Admiral and Governor, who while he maintained 
 with becoming dignity the honorable station m 
 ■which he was placed, still avoided all unnecessary 
 display, as being inconsistent with the character of the 
 government of a fishing station. 
 
 The construction of roads, if persevered in, will 
 be another fruitful source of future expenditure ; good 
 roads are no doubt desirable, when they can be attiin. 
 ed with facility and made use of to advantage, in keep- 
 ing up a communication between one town and ano- 
 ther, or between town and country ; but in such a 
 country as Newfoundland, where tlie majority of the 
 inhabitants are not settled in towns, but scattered a! )ng 
 the coast in remote bays and harbours inaccessible 
 except by sea, it is difficult to foresee what advantage 
 they can derive from the construction of roadsf in the 
 vicinity of St. John^s, and perhaps a very (ew other 
 principal settlements; for an idea tiiat has h^en sug- 
 gested of making roads to enable the Governor and 
 judges to travel by land round the island, is too fanci- 
 ful to be seriously entertained ; and that of making 
 
immm 
 
 itliug up 
 ile must 
 flding is 
 requiictl 
 ht maii- 
 uthority; 
 ifortable» 
 ouse was 
 idence of 
 lintaiiied 
 ition 111 
 leccssary 
 ter of ilie 
 
 d in, will 
 ire ; good 
 be attain-* 
 , in keep- 
 and ano- 
 in such a 
 ty of the 
 red a! )ng 
 accessible 
 id vantage 
 i^ in the 
 (ew other 
 jeen sug- 
 ernor and 
 too fanci- 
 f making 
 
 tu,ee or four main roads from St Jolui's, to eommu-- 
 e with the interior, and whh the heads of the ^ 
 Z. islittle less extravagant: for supposmg it to be 
 Sucable and the roads made, to what profi able 
 .pose could they be applied ? It i. understood that 
 here are other objects in contemplation, which must 
 add to the future expenditure, sue!, as public markets- 
 ^ „ew ffaol-hospital»-.and in due time, p^rbajw. 
 ^ UMVEHS.TY-all commendable improvements m 
 ;uitable situations and ina state of society requiring 
 tbem, and to which there can be no objection .,f J^ 
 nhabitants of St. John>s choose to >"f" p/" ^^ 
 ;, tkeircn propa^ e:^ence. but not all of then, ^ 
 must be confessed such as one would expect to fifna 
 in Newfoundland, in its present state of general 
 depression.* - 
 
 . Beside. U,e additional expenditure In the Civil .departm«iu; 
 
 the oeople must also look forward to an augmentation of the Ecde- 
 tbe people mu ^.jj ^^ ^^j^ 
 
 siastical estahhshment of he Is Ian . ^^^^^^ ^^ y^^ ^.^ ^^^ ^.^.^^.^ 
 
 r;:— d a re;'t Lernment. in which he represents th, 
 Lttlenr to be in a lamentable state oi deficiency .« that parUcuIar^ 
 i:!I U will tber,lpre v.ry probably be determined that newChurch,^ 
 ,„u-t bet built, and Ministers be provided for them. 
 
 ' The neeessity of such a measure does not appear very evident 
 
 t. a common observer; io eyery principal bay "^d tiaj-bo- 'h«rc 
 
 i, already a Church, and provision made for the support of it, and 
 
 for a Minister; and the popubtion being composed, a., m o^ 
 
 ountrie-. of a variety of religious secU. there a. . also num^- 
 
 places of worship establish^ and maintained by the ,diflerc. 
 
 D " 
 
 \i 
 
 A- 
 
I 
 
 
 22 
 
 The Neufoundlaiul fishery, uhich hv a train of 
 events such as can never probably occur again, Avas 
 raised during- the h.lter part (.fthe late war^o a'pitcli 
 of unusual prosperity, is non ruhiccd to a slate of de- 
 pressiou, such iis it scarcely excr before experienced 
 The causes of this reverse are to bt traced, in the first 
 instance, to those portions of the treatiep entered into 
 with France and America at Ihe conclusion of the late 
 ^var, by Mhich certain rights of fishery were ceded to 
 the subjects of those powers ; in consequence of which 
 Ihey have successfully prosecuted the fisheries on the 
 coast to a very considerable extent, and under advan- 
 tages which tlie British fisherman does not enjoy. 
 Botli the French and American fishermen liave great 
 encouragements in the nature of bounties from their 
 governments; they obtain all their articles of outfit 
 
 (leaominations of Christians, who do not conform to the established 
 Church. The Clergymea of the establishment art a highly re- 
 spectable body, and they concur in representing the religious con- 
 cerns of the Islanu c a a most favorable state; it does not 
 appear therefore, i'la? lUere is any re.,; want of spiritual instruction. 
 The erecting and maintaining the Churches have been principally 
 at tht cost of tlie inhabitants, and there are individuals who have 
 thereby incurred very heavy expences : at a harbour in the northeni 
 part of Newfoundland, it was some years since determined to build 
 a n#w..Churcb, which was ac«ordingly commenced, bul proceeded 
 slowly for want of funds, wden an English Merchant, who had an 
 establishment there, very liberally pledged himself to the Clergy- 
 man to have it completed, and from time to time he advanced money 
 for the purpose, and therehas been for some years and is still owin"- 
 to him, a balance of £1038 on account of it. 
 
)y a train of 
 agaii), Avas 
 >• to a pitcli 
 slale ofde- 
 xperienced. 
 in the first 
 entered into 
 1 of tlie late 
 re ceded to 
 ce of wliich 
 Ties on the 
 ider ad van- 
 not enjoy, 
 have great 
 from their 
 is of outfit 
 
 ^e established 
 a highly re- 
 religious con- 
 it does not 
 ii instruction. 
 m principally 
 als who havie 
 1 the northern 
 lined to build 
 ut proceeded 
 , who had an 
 ) the Clergy- 
 anced money 
 is still owinj: 
 
 23 
 
 » . rlH-iner rate ; Ibey have both a home market 
 r . :S rdin a/dUion to U.eir >.o- co^n^ 
 „„,, !,avc ,Ue muvUc.s of Spain, Italy, <Ue ^^ est . .cs. 
 ,„„! Soull. Amcic, open to tl.c.n upon cpv,.! fcn.s 
 ,vill> .he British fislicrman ; and the Amencaus^Uav? 
 ,„e further advantage of employment <3;"»1| '^e -m- . 
 ,ev, and are not therefore like the B.msl. fisheim^ 
 com,..lled to charge the expenee of the whole year 
 
 ; Le labour of a" few months in the fishin. sea^n 
 It' must therefore be allo,v,:J that the F-nch^^d 
 
 Americans, with all these advantages, arc ..n^^ 
 
 couipetito,^ with the British fisherman m forc.^a 
 
 markets open to each. 
 
 Another cause of this reverse is to be found ia 
 
 the depreciated value of fish in f^-^'e" =°,'''''^^ ^'.J^ 
 of (ish oils in the home market ; that o O.e fo^r « 
 
 to be atu;ib«tf4,*Mfcte tf * ^':'^'!'-^^ZW^ 
 
 Spahf andjtajyfand p^^cularly of Ute former ?vj^ 
 
 tl^ duties have for some years past opetated as avir^ 
 
 ,ual prohibition, in consequence of the mab.l.ty oft^e 
 
 inhabitants to pu.x,h,se fish at a price proporfona.e ,^ 
 
 the heavy imports; U.e effect of «"- 1- ''^'' j^ 
 
 overload the markeu of Italy where tl'C dut«s a^ 
 
 also excessive, and '-hose of Portugal, and the sah^ 
 
 of fish in both couD,tries have been ruinous lo the 
 
 adventurer. 
 
 The decline in the price of oils is lo be altribated 
 
 i.(f 
 
 m 
 
 
 tH 
 
 r 
 

 24 
 
 I 
 
 in part to a decreasjed consumption arising from 
 Aiirious causes, amongst ninch the substitution of coal 
 gas as an artificial light is no douht an important one. 
 These causes of reverse are peculiar to the fislierv, 
 there are otljcrs in >vhic!i it shares in common with 
 thej^eneral commerce of the countr)'. 
 
 Having thus sliown tlie past and present state of 
 jthe Newfoundland fishery, on tlie one hand elevated 
 loan extraordinary degree of prosperity, and on the 
 other depressed beyond all former example, it may be 
 useful calmJy to enqunc what may best be done to 
 a/Tord it relief: the most obvious means would be, if 
 any such means could be devised, to increase the value 
 of Its produce, and particularly of fish' in foreign 
 markets, and this object it is feared can only be ob- 
 tained by a reduction of the duties: the subject has 
 often been brought under the consideration of His 
 INIajesty^s government, which has from time to time 
 used its endeavours to procure some relaxation, but 
 unfortunately hitlierto without success, and it must be 
 confessed there seems to be but little probability of its 
 being soon accomplished ; the object however should 
 still be kejit in view, and the government be solicited 
 to continue its efforts m nnv airanoement with tiie 
 govcnnnciifs ofSpain and Ilalv, to oblain a reciprocity 
 "t tijat libeial policy whi( h has marked the commer- 
 eiid regululions of this country wilh regard to foreigii 
 .states. 
 
iing from 
 on of coal 
 rtant one. 
 e fislierv, 
 noil with 
 
 it state of 
 elevated 
 1 on the 
 t may be 
 done to 
 Id be, if 
 the value 
 foreign 
 be ob- 
 ject has 
 of His 
 to time 
 on, but 
 must I)e 
 ty of its 
 ■ should 
 olirited 
 ith the 
 [)rocity 
 >nnner- 
 forcigu 
 
 The next most obvious means of relief, is 
 retrenchment in the expenditure of the island, atid to 
 restrain it wiihin those reasonable bounds that are 
 suited to the circumstances of the fishery, and thereby 
 to prevent the necessity of imposing any further bur- 
 dens on the people, and to relieve them from so much 
 of their existing burdens as may be consistent y/iih 
 the general g-ood. The fisheries of othexsr^^cquniries 
 have the advantage of positvoe encouragement from 
 their governments, and surely it cannot be too much 
 to ask of the British government for its fisheries, the 
 negative encouragement of relief front taxatioii. 
 From the view that has been taken of the present state 
 of the Newfoundland fishery, it is evident that it is not 
 ill a condition to bear additional imposts, and if this 
 uere not the fact, the impolicy of the measure is a 
 poA erful objection to it : the eflfect of duties upon the ' 
 supplies for the fishery at Newfoundland ivould be to 
 promote an illicit trade? apd' very' soon tri such an 
 extent, that it would require tlie constant employment 
 of a naval force to prevent and detect it,' and ii must 
 be manifest that the expence of maintaining such a 
 force would in great measure defeat the end proposed 
 in imposing the duty. Another effect not less to be 
 i;iiarded against, is that any duty that affects the 
 JSi^ewfouiidland fisherman, must, to the same extent, 
 prove an additional bounty to his rivals the French 
 and American fishermen. 
 
 I 
 
<■•« 
 
 / ■; 
 
 ■'- if- 
 
 «Cj- ^TTJJBZr-^ 
 
 26 
 
 The subject is one of peculiar inloiesl m ,),» 
 
 the dUt-harbon™, ^ho h.s at all fmes bee,, ,ep,e.c„. 
 6^.:asat h=a,f.„d fferen, ,o ,he hnproveme,,. 1(71 
 
 tosmdifference has not been unfrequently imp,, e<l lo 
 
 m«e present day -and ,„ „l,icl, the St. John's n.er- 
 d-ant has, perhaps, too readily joined, with ,vhat el, 
 
 ^ r , fToI r ''°"'''"'^"' ^""'"''^"' •■" St. John's than 
 
 r^i on .e t;:,'.:;^ T)'""' 1'- ■"-'-'•• 
 
 resi.lent fishe-^n . Tp l'., - ^-^'^-'f --"-=- -he 
 ertinn ,!,» ,.„ '^ ~ "'"'" '"« '»"«>'■ and ex- 
 
 ertion the veiy existence of the fisheiv depends • and it 
 
 » an ,ncon.™vertibIe ..u.l, that tho^e have be'e' th 
 mast flonrishing ,i„es to the «,ereha„t in ,vhieh te 
 .nd.str.ous planter has been able to .• i e hiS to 
 
 ndependence and to support his family i^^nln 
 »nd h. the me,ehants of the present da/do nS" 
 ^•e .0 allow , „, Ur.0. past a less lihend feelin! P^ 
 
 aps p..eva,led. To watch over and protect thf d 
 ngh,« of Ure pumer, ,„ relieve l,i,n is far as, nay 
 
 t.xaUon. -to omehorale h.s conditio,, bv such eneou- 
 S'?"" -occasion may rc,„„, ..d-cncumlZs 
 
 - h od ; ,.„ .|.e p,„spcri.y of ,l,e „„,,„a..t and the 
 planter ,s «, .nterwove.,, that they n.nst rise and fal! 
 
^^r\ 
 
 ar interest at xhe 
 ui! established at 
 ?s been represent- 
 Jvemcnt of New- 
 inhabitants, and 
 ^entJy imputed to 
 ogelher forgotten 
 e St. John's mer- 
 l with what con- 
 Jable that self-in- 
 U St. John's than 
 of die merchant, 
 id encoui-age ♦lie 
 his labor and ex- 
 depends ; and it 
 i have been the 
 Jit, in which the 
 laise himself to 
 fniJy in comfort, 
 Jay do not hesi- 
 ?ral feeJing pcr- 
 protect the civil 
 fis far as may bo 
 n th.} bnrden of 
 ^y such encou- 
 J circumstances 
 ^f government, 
 rchant must be 
 ichant and the 
 St rise and fui; 
 
 together. It the.'-efore behoves eveiy class oi person^ ^j 
 interested in the Newfoundland fishery, the/St. Joj' 
 merchant, the out-harbour merchan'f, avd.ibe^ 
 .0 unite their efforts for the common gVlpd, 
 their most strenuous endeavours at the pro 
 to obtain a well-regulated civil ezpeodi&p 
 within those moderate Ubiinds tliarihe nw 
 fishery Avill enable it to provide for, without 
 taxation. i*^ 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 
 —.Ok* 
 
 '^v^. 
 
 Mlocre ami Sydenham, Printen, I'onU 
 
 •"> 
 
 
 ■M 
 
 !-^