and warehoused for the fiscal years 1847 to 1851, inclusive, and the disposition made of the same. Statement No. 4 shows the same for pickled fish. By the first it will be seen that twenty-seven thirty-fourth parts of the whole importation were exported; and by the second, that filty per cent. of the imports were shipped out of the country, to the exclusion of American fish. These facts are so very striking, that comment is deemed unnecessary Statements Nos. 5, 6, and 7, exhibit the quantity and value of each kind of fish imported into the United States from 1843 to 1850 inclusive, and also the exports for the same years, of both foreign-caught and American fisheries. In the table No. 5, the increase of imports will sufficiently appear; and I have to call your particular attention to table No. 6, in which will be seen that in 1843 no foreign dry fish was exported from any port in the United States, and only one hundred and three barrels of pickled fish; and even down to 1946, the small amount of ten quintals only were exported. The following year, 1847, thirty-five thousand quintals of dry and fourteen thousand barrels of pickled fish were exported, and the annual exports have gone on increasing from that time to the present; the quantity of pickled fish for 1850 being over fify-nine thousand barrels. Table No. 7, shows the quantity and value of American-caught fish exported to all countries for the same years. I also append table No. 8, which shows the whole quantity of pickled fish inspected at the various fishing towns in Massachusetts from 1838 to 1850 inclusive. This document is compiled to exhibit the magnitude of this branch of the fisheries in this Commonwealth, and the interest Massachusetts citizens have in the proper regulation of the fisheries. I also append hereto statement No. 9, of the tonnage of vessels employed in the fisheries of the United States for the years 1843 to 1850 inclusive, designating the tonnage employed in the cod fishery, mackerel fishery, and of vessels under twenty tons burden in the cod fishery, and also register tonnage in the whale fishery, together with the aggregate tonnage of the whole country for each period, by which a comparison can be made, at a glance, of the relative tonnage in each employment, with the entire tonnage of the United States. In the year 1815, the year after the termination of the late war with Great Britain, the fishing tonnage of the United States did not exceed fifteen thousand tons; in 1835, twenty years afterwards, it reached one hundred and fourteen thousand tons; in 1845 it was two hundred and eighty-seven thousand tons; and from 1846 to 1850, it increased about nine thousand tons only, including the whale fishery. Although the cod and mackerel fisheries were each regarded a trade or employment within the true intent and meaning of the 32d section of the act of 1793, the authority to issue licenses for the mackerel fishery was first granted by the act of Congress of 24th of May, 1828, by which it was proposed to keep the two employments distinct. But every year's returns show that vessels so licensed have been engaged in catching cod fish; and the owners of such vessels have in many districts obtained the bounty allowed to vessels in the cod fishery, by de ducting the time employed in mackerel fishing, if the time required for bounty was otherwise made out between the last day of February and the last day of November, in the year employed. The consequence has been, that within the customary range of a fishing voyage both cod and mackerel have been taken, without regard to the tenor of the license, and the collectors generally have paid the full bounty allowed by law to those employed exclusively in the cod fishery. It would therefore appear from the legal history of the fishing bounties and allowances, and from the constructions and understanding of them by the various officers whose duty it is to execute them, that the whole system requires revision. The regulations for dividing the proceeds of the fishing voyages, instead of paying monthly wages to the crew, are too frequently evaded by a large number of vessels; and notwithstanding all the vigilance of the officers of the revenue, it is quite doubtful if the actual fishermen now derive much if any benefit from the large sums annually paid out of the treasury for fishing bounties. I regard it of great importance to cherish this branch of industry, and would not recommend that anything should be adopted which would impair its prosperity; but I am so strongly impressed with the conviction that those most interested in the business would be benefited by a more thorough supervision of bounty claims, that I do not hesitate to urge its consideration upon the department. The second act passed by Congress after the establishment of government-July 4th, 1789-allowed a bounty on dried and on pickled fish, and on salted provisions, exported to any foreign country; and this act continued in force, with the modifications contained in the acts of August 4th and the 10th of August, 1790; of the 18th of February and 8th of July, 1792; 2d of March, 1799; 12th of April, 1800; and finally repealed by the abolition of the salt duty, March 3d, 1807. From 1807 to July 29th, 1813, there were no bounties or allowances to fishing vessels. This last act restored the fishing bounties without granting any allowance or drawback on the exportation of salted beef and pork; and the rates allowed were increased by the act of March 3d, 1819, according to which all payments are now made. I have thus summarily traced the history of legislation in regard to this subject, in order to show the share of public attention given to it, and as preparatory to giving a comparative view of the sums paid by government as bounties under the various acts of Congress. It appears that for the year ending December 31st, 1791, the sum of $29,682 11 was paid as bounties on salted provisions and pickled fish, but nothing was paid to vessels employed in the fisheries prior to 1793, when the sum paid was nearly $73,000. For the year 1806, the sum of $37,000 was paid on salted provisions, &c., and $163,000 to vessels employed in the fisheries, making a total of about $200,000. During the years 1812, '13, and '14, no payments were made. In 1815, only $1,800 were paid; but in 1820, the first year after the operation of the act of 1819, the sum paid amounted to $209,000. The amount now paid annually is not far from $320,000. By the abstract herewith, number 10, it will be seen that at this port alone there have been paid more than two millions of dollars for bounties since the year The sums paid to vessels licensed at Boston I have separated 1841. from the amounts paid for drafts drawn by collectors of other districts, designating the particulars and the aggregates for each year and for the whole period. It will be scen, likewise, that while the allowances have continued to decrease at Boston, at almost every other place they have increased. At this port, for several years past, an inspector has been detailed at the commencement of the fishing season, whose whole duty it is to look after vessels engaged in the fisheries, and to note, from day to day, every vessel in port, and all the particulars relating to her business, and at the close of the season the facts collated are communicated in detail to the collectors of the respective ports whence licenses were granted. Under the instructions of the department of February 22d, 1842, a certificate has been required previously to the vessel's departure, setting forth her seaworthiness and a description of fishing gear, &c., and such a certificate has been regarded here as a necessary prerequisite to the obtaining the bounty. The journal of the vessel, to be sworn to by the master, has also been required, as directed by instructions of 22d of December, 1848; and the last circular on this subject, of September 17, 1851, as modified by circular of December 11, 1851, will be strictly enforced, and applied in the liquidation of all claims for the bounty during the past season. If time permitted, other matters might be examined and stated, bearing on this subject, but they would little aid or strengthen the inferences to be drawn from the facts submitted. The extent, character, and value of the fisheries, in connexion with the trade and commerce of the British North American provinces, will appear in an examination of the statistical tables which form a part of this report; and from an examination of the existing treaties bearing on the fisheries, the restrictions and inequalities under which American fishermen pursue their business will be apparent. It follows, therefore, that to secure anything like reciprocal trade between the United States and those provinces, a more liberal policy on the part of the British government in regard to the fisheries must first take place. So long as our citizens are compelled to conduct the fishing business from their vessels in the open sea, and the colonists are permitted to land on any of the shores, inhabited or uninhabited, and set up their fishing stations, and carry on their employment from the land, and American vessels are denied the free navigation of the St. Lawrence, the Gut of Canso, the shore fisheries, and other advantages claimed by the colonists, under the sanction of these treaties, it is believed that our government cannot adopt any measures tending to additional benefits to the commerce of the colonies. I also transmit abstract (No. 11) of fishing vessels lost during the past season, their tonnage, loss of life, &c., as returned by the collectors of the several ports therein named. CUSTOM HOUSE, Boston, January 7, 1852. |