tion, nor have they, as we firmly believe, given, in any instance, just cause of complaint." It is a well known fact that the American fishermen leave their fishing ground every Saturday (when there is not a man-of-war, or her boats, in the neighborhood) and anchor in some of the harbors of Manan until the Monday, bringing in the fish offal with them and throwing it overboard on the inner banks, by which they drive the fish off those banks; and they haul their nets during the Sunday and catch sufficient bait for the ensuing week. This they suppose is not known-for they are not ignorant that this is a violation of the provisions of the convention; the fact is they want, by causing much trouble, to deter the man-of-war stationed in the Bay of Fundy from interfering with them at all. That the brig's barge has come into the wharf at Eastport, and taken and carried away two boats laden with flour, Lieutenant Driffield's letter on that subject will, I think, completely invalidate that charge. That the Hero-American fishing vessel-captured on the 16th of June, has not been sent in for trial, but is armed and is still used as a tender to the Dotterel, is entirely false. She was not used by me to annoy a single American vessel, and on her arrival at St. John's was delivered over to the collector of the customs, and ought, long ere this, to have been adjudged in the vice-admiralty court. "That the officers having charge of the armed boats of the Dotterel, ordered to cruise round Grand Manan and Campo Bello, have written instructions, which have been exhibited, to seize and send into St. Andrew's all American fishing vessels found within three marine miles of the said island." My order to the officers of the boat has been, that any American vessels they may find within three marine miles of the shore, except in evident cases of distress, or in want of wood or water, they are to detain and send or carry them to St. Andrew's. I have the honor to be, &c., Rear Admiral LAKE, RICHARD HOARE, Commander. HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP DOTTEREL, SIR: I beg leave to represent, in obedience to your orders of this day's date, directing me to give a statement of the facts, and under what circumstances I detained the American fishing schooner at different anchorages at the Grand Manan, while cruizing in the yawl, in pursuance of your orders, for the protection of our fisheries, that on the second of July last, on boarding an English vessel, I found a man named Wright officiating as pilot to carry her to Grau harbor, who told me he belonged to the American fishing schooner Rebecca, then at anchor at Woodward's cove, and that they came there for water. Satisfied with his assertion, I continued cruising, and shortly after I observed the American vessel getting under weigh, leaving the said man (Wright) behind. I ran down towards her; they not heaving to, after I had fired several shots across their bow, I chased her over to the Nova Scotia shore, where I lost sight of her. On the 6th following, I found the said American schooner Rebecca at anchor, cleaning fish and throwing the offal overboard, and the aforesaid man (Wright) on board. It being fine weather, and they having three barrels of water on board, with a sufficient quantity of wood, I detained her and took her to St. John's. On the 15th of the same month I found the American fishing schooner William anchoring in Gull cove; the weather was fine until after she got in, when it came on foggy, with light breezes, and they having two barrels of water on board, which myself, Mr. Tongeau and boat's crew subsequently used from, and plenty of wood, I detained her. Having found the American schooner Rover, of Addison, (Crowly master) landing a great part of her cargo of green fish to a Mr. Fowler, of Gull cove, I made the William's boat fast to the yawl for the night, to prevent their crew from doing the same. As for their getting water, about sunset, and a vessel to anchor alongside of them, Mr. Tongeau and I know it to be impossible, as I had a sentry planted on shore, about two cables' length from them, and if they received any water after dark, it was done as a pretext, for the boat's crew were witnesses to the water I found on board when I first boarded her; and that I threatened to confine the master to the deck, and lash a pump brake across his mouth, as stated in their protest, that is false. On my first boarding her, with only three men, in a small boat, they were very abusive to us, and one of them said if they were all of his mind they would heave that fellow overboard-pointing to me. I told him if he did not keep quiet I would lash him to the deck. At three p. m., same day, (15th) I received information from the fishermen at Gull cove, as well as from the master and crew of the fishing schooner Minerva, of Grand Manan, that an American schooner was at anchor at Beal's passage. I went out from Gull cove and saw her there; at nine o'clock in the evening I boarded her, which proved to be the American fishing schooner Galeon, and found all the crew asleep. On questioning the master the reason of his being there, he told me he had come to throw the gurry (offal of the fish) overboard. They not being in want of wood or water, and a fine fair wind for them, I detained her, got her under weigh, and ran for Gull cove, a direct course for their fishing ground. What the crew of the last mentioned vessel asserted in their protest is not true. I never said that I would release their vessel, but told them that it was not in my power to do it, as they had decidedly violated the treaty of convention between England and the United States; but as they pleaded poverty, saying their vessel was their sole support, I told them I would recommend their case to Captain Hoare, of the Dotterel, my commanding officer. Both schooners, William and Galeon, I took to St. Andrew's next day. On the 25th of the same month I received information from the master and crew of the fishing schooner Industry, of Grand Manan, that several American fishing schooners were at anchor at Two Island harbor, and that two of them, namely, the Reindeer and Ruby, of Lubec, were at White Island harbor on the 24th, where they got their wood and water; and that, on their anchoring there, they told them and the inhabitants they were armed, and would not allow any man-of-war's boat to board them; and after they had their supplies they shifted to Two Island harbor. At daylight, on the 26th, observed four schooners at anchor at Two Island harbor, which got under weigh on our appearing. When I got close to three of them they lashed alongside each other, and all hands, thirty in number, went on board the middle one, with fire-arms and fish-spears. I desired them to separate, which they refused to do, until I threatened to fire on them. On boarding them they proved to be the Reindeer, Ruby, Friends and Diligent, American fishing schooners. It being fine weather, and they not in want of wood or water, I detained the Reindeer and Ruby, and by the sanction of the masters of the Diligent and Friends, I put the crews of the Reindeer and Ruby on board of them, with as much provision as they wished to take, and on our passage to St. Andrew's, the said schooners, Reindeer and Ruby, were forcibly taken from me by armed vessels under American colors, as stated in my letter of the 27th July last. I have the honor to be, &c., &c. J. JONES, Master of H. M. sloop Dotterel. RICHARD HOARE, Commander. HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP DOTTEREL, SIR: In obedience to your orders I herewith add a statement of the Pilgrim and Hero, American fishing schooners: On the 16th of June last I observed these schooners laying off the Grand Menan, and upon approaching them one of the schooners got under weigh and stood in for the shore; 3 30 p. m. observed the schooner under weigh, heave her lines overboard and haul in fish, the schooner then within one and a half mile of the island; 3 40, fired and brought to the schooner; 2 45, boarded the Pilgrim, then about one mile or one mile and a quarter from the shore; she had on board fish alive; took possession of her for a breach of the treaty; I then took to the N. E. and boarded the Hero, who had made sail from in shore, whilst I was on board the Pilgrim, and finding she was in want of nothing, I inquired what she had been doing so near the shore with her sails down; to which I was informed by one of the crew they had been cleaning their fish on shore; in consequence of which, and having seen her within one mile of the land, I took possession of her also; stood in and anchored in Two Island harbors. Thursday, the 17th, being for the most part of the day calm, I remained at anchor. Friday, the 18th, at 7 a. m., weighed and stood for Beaver harbor; from 9 to 12 calm; 3 p. m. observed two schooners under the Eastern Wolf, then about one mile distant; it being calm at the time, I ordered the master of the Pilgrim to send me her small boat, not having one myself-upon receiving which I ordered one of my seamen and one marine armed into her; the boy who brought the boat I told to remain on board until I returned, but on his expressing a wish to go, and knowing he was more acquainted with her than any of my men could be, I agreed that he should pull, and ordered my seamen on board, part of the way I pulled, and part of the way the marine pulled with the boy; when I returned, there being no appearance of wind, I ordered the schooners Pilgrim and Hero to follow me and anchor under the Eastern Wolf for the night. Saturday, the 19th, it being calm, I did not weigh until 11 a. m., then a light breeze; stood for Beaver harbor, where I anchored at 3 p. m., with an intention of waiting the Dotterel; arrived, therefore, unbent sails, and caused the Pilgrim and Hero to do the same. Sunday, the 20th, 11 20 a. m., observed the Dotterel pass in the offing to the eastward, bent sails, and observed the Pilgrim and Hero to do the same; 12 20 p. m. weighed, schooners in company, beat out of the harbor, but finding the Pilgrim and Hero could not, I bore up, stood in and anchored, schooners in company Monday, the 21st, at 7 p. m. weighed, with light airs, schooners in company; beat up and anchored in Mason's bay at 8 30 p. m. Tuesday, the 22d, at 2 30 a. m. the sentry reported one of the schooners was gone. Wednesday, the 23d, fresh gales, until 10 a. m., then light airs with heavy rain-still at anchor. Thursday, the 24th, at 9 a. m., weighed with light airs, and stood for Point la Pro, Hero in company; but falling calm, was obliged to fall into Dipper harbor. Friday, the 25th, heavy rains with strong breezes from the castward; remained at anchor. Saturday, the 26th, weighed, but were obliged to put back again. I further beg leave to state that I did detain on board the crews of the Pilgrim and Hero, having no authority for acting otherwise; that Winslow, in Beaver harbor, said he was aware of having fished within the limits, and if I would allow him and crew to go home he would give up his schooner and never again ask for her. Part of the men were at times on board my boat and living the same as my boat's crew, who had the allowance of the British navy excepting spirits, which had been all used, to make up for which I gave from my private stock to those of the schooners who were on board my boat. I never asked them to do any duty on board my boat, nor did I at any time make use of harsh or menacing language; the duty done by the persons taken out of one or either of the schooners was a perfect voluntary act of their own; the arms spoken of were taken from the Pilgrim, through expressions made use of by Winslow, for safety: powder, a quarter of a pound; shot, about one pound; the arms were delivered to the gunner, the papers of each schooner were delivered to the custom-house at St. John's. I have the honor to be, &c., &c., &c., R. HOARE, Commander. S. R. BOTHUS, Mate. Evidence of Mr. Towneau, midshipman, and the crew of the yawl boat belonging to her Majesty's sloop Dotterel, relative to the detention of the American fishing schooner William. Mr. TowNEAU, midshipman, examined relative to the detention of the American schooner William. Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William? Answer. Yes. Q. State the particulars. A. Mr. Jones sent me with James Lloyd, marine, on a point of land to look out. We saw two or three vessels working up; observed one of them anchor in Gull cove. Mr. Jones went out in the small boat to board her; he hailed us to come along side in the yawl, which we did, and found Mr. Jones had detained her. We then took their fish knives from them, having heard by some people both on shore and on board some English vessels that they would oppose us in boarding. We unbent her sails and took them with us in the yawl; also her boat. Q. Do you know Mr. Jones' reason for taking her boat? A. Yes; to prevent her crew going on shore to exchange fish for rum, knowing that another American fishing vessel had done the like with Mr. Fowler at Gull cove the same day; also to prevent their getting water, as the American fishermen generally make that a pretext for coming in. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she on board? A. I cannot say the exact quantity, but there was sufficient for her crew and ours to carry her to St. Andrew's, at which place we did not arrive till several days after her detention. Q. How was the weather? A. Very fine with a moderate breeze; but after she anchored it came on foggy. THOMAS RICHARDSON examined. Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he detained the American schooner William ? A. Yes. Q. Relate all you know respecting her. A. I went with Mr. Jones in the small boat to board her; went below and overhauled what quantity of wood and water she had on board. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she? A. About sixty gallons of water below and thirty on deck, and about a cord and a half of wood. Q. How was the weather? A. The weather was moderate and hazy, but after she anchored it came on foggy. JAMES LLOYD, marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William ? Answer. I cannot recollect the vessel's name, having detained several. FELIX SHAW, marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William ? Answer. Yes. Q. Relate the circumstances you know about her. A. I cannot recollect any of the particulars, as we detained several. |