Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Blaine.

No. 151.]

Sir: Referring again to my dispatch No. 84 of September 19, 1889, on the subject of the discrimination charged by Mr. Phelan as being enforced against American vessels in the port of Halifax in the matter of compulsory pilotage, in which I suggested that in saying that “American vessels of 80 tons and over are liable to pilotage which is practically compulsory, while Canadian vessels are exempt up to 120 tons,” Mr. Phelan had possibly overlooked a distinction between Canadian vessels engaged in their coasting trade and other Canadian vessels. I now have the honor to inclose a copy of a note from the Marquis of Salisbury on the subject, dated the 3d instant, from which it appears that at the port of Halifax all vessels, whether British or foreign, coming from foreign ports, and which are over 80 tons register, pay pilotage dues; but that vessels registered in the Dominion not over 120 tons registered tonnage engaged in trading or fishing voyages within ports in the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, and St. Pierre, Miquelon, are exempted from compulsory pilotage.

I have, etc.,

Robert T. Lincoln.
[Inclosure in No. 151.]

Sir James Fergusson to Mr. Lincoln.

Sir: With reference to my note of the 12th of October last, I have now the honor to inclose an extract from a report of a committee of the privy council of the Dominion of Canada, approved by the governor-general in council, respecting the alleged [Page 323] discrimination between British and United States vessels in respect to pilotage dues levied at Halifax, which formed one of the subjects of complaint in Mr. White’s note of the 18th of March last.

It will be seen from this report that all vessels registered in the Dominion not over 120 tons register engaged in trading or fishing voyages within ports in the Dominion, Newfoundland, and St. Pierre, Miquelon, are exempted from compulsory pilotage dues, but that all other vessels, whether British or foreign, coming from foreign ports and which are over 80 tons register pay these dues.

I have, etc.,

(For the Marquis of Salisbury),
James Fergusson.
[Extract.]

The minister of marine observes, with reference to the matter of an alleged discrimination between British and American vessels in respect to the pilotage dues levied at the port of Halifax, that by the report received from the pilotage authority no exemption is allowed to Canadian fishing vessels in the matter of pilotage dues other than that permitted by by-law No. 26, which by-law was duly approved by minute of council dated May 24, 1877, and reads as follows:

“All vessels registered in the Dominion of Canada not over 120 tons registered tonnage engaged in trading or fishing voyages within ports in the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, and St. Pierre, Miquelon, to be exempted from compulsory pilotage.”

The minister further states that the by-law in question was framed by the pilotage authority under the provisions of the fifty-ninth section of the pilotage act, chapter 80, revised statutes, which provides that ships of such description and size not exceeding 250 tons registered tonnage, as a pilotage authority of a district with the approval of the governor in council from time to time determines to be exempt from the compulsory payment of pilotage in such district, shall be exempt from the compulsory payment of pilotage dues.

The minister recommends that under the authority of this by-law all vessels registered in the Dominion of Canada not over 120 tons, and which are engaged in trading or fishing voyages within ports in the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, and St. Pierre, Miquelon are exempt from compulsory pilotage at the port of Halifax, but the pilotage authority states that “all other vessels, whether British or foreign, coming from foreign ports, and which are over 80 tons register, pay pilotage dues.”