Governor Sir William MacGregor to the Earl of Elgin.
My responsible advisers request me to transmit following messages
Minister of finance has received information to-day by telegraph from the subcollector of customs at Bonne Bay, stating that an American schooner has arrived equipped with purse seines and declines to pay light dues, and desiring to be advised whether the laws are to be enforced. Ministers are placed in a most embarrassing position, not knowing whether agreement has been arrived at between His Majesty’s Government and that of the United States by which Americans may use such seines and are exempt from payment of light dues. They desire to be advised promptly as to the exact position of affairs, and whether they are free to enforce the customs and fisheries law$ of this colony against American fishermen.