examination, the accuracy with which they distributed the several kinds.
    I have been particular in my enquiries respecting the Sack Ships, whether jealous of each other, and struggling who shall carry their fish first to market they do not frequently ship it before it is properly cured.
    I cannot ascertain that this had occured; and am strongly inclined to think that it is not the case; for this reason, that the Sack Ships are generally consigned by Houses in England or otherwise, to Houses with which they are connected in Newfoundland; and therefore, that as the Merchant who ships the fish is himself interested in its sale, he is naturally careful that it should be properly cured, and in a fit state for shipping.

    Art. 9^th I have not understood that the Salmon Fisheries are, from the best enquiries that I have been able to make, improperly monopolized. There appears to be considerable impediment thrown in its way from the present extremely high price of the materials for carrying on that Fishery; which can only be managed with nets.
    I have endeavoured in vain to discover any means of improving it.

    Art. 10^th The Whale fishery is not carried on by any of His Majesty's

    9^th And whereas the Salmon Fishery carried on in different parts of our Island of Newfoundland has already proved of great advantage to our United Kingdom and we have reason to suppose the same may be considerably extended, you are therefore to give all due encouragement and protection to our Subjects concerned in the said Fishery, taking care that none of the places where the Salmon are caught shall be improperly monopolized contrary to our intentions expressed in the foregoing Instructions with respect to the Fisheries in general, and you are to inform yourself of the actual state of this Fishery, and how far the same may be properly extended and improved.

    10^th You are further to enquire particularly into the state of the

Subjects on the Coast of Newfoundland. I have submitted to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, and to the Lords of the Committee of Council for Trade the request of Doctor Carson of S^t John's to be granted a Patent for taking Whales within the precincts of this Government on the principals of a plan which he has invented; and am greatly desirous that he should be protected in his undertaking; for I am convinced that it only requires enterprize in this case to insure success. I have seen myself in my way to the Coast of Labrador this summer so many Whales, that it appears strange that persons have not been induced to make experiment of this important fishery.
    The Seal Fishery continues to flourish and improve considerably.
    The People of Newfoundland are so sensible of its value that no other stimulus appears necessary to urge them/to pursue it. It would have been more productive this year but for the very unusual frequency of the Ice Islands impeding the progress of the Vessels towards the Field Ice, on which alone the Seals are to be found.

    Art. 11^th I have issued a Proclamation as directed by this Article respecting the Native Indians; (Appendix B) and have given every attention to this interesting subject which it assuredly deserves.
    It appears that the Governors my predecessors have for many years endeavoured to establish an intercourse with these Indians, and have invariably failed. If the work be therefore to be accomplished at all, (and I am strongly inclined to hope

Whale Fishery and of the Seal Fishery carried on in the Seas within your Government or adjacent thereunto, and whether any means can be suggested for promoting the success and extension thereof, particularly of the latter as it furnishes employment for a most useful Body of Men before the Cod fishery commences






























    11^th You are to use your best endeavours to encourage a friendly intercourse with the Indians residing in our Island of Newfoundland or resorting thither, using your best endeavours to conciliate their affections so as to induce them to trade with our Subjects, and in Order to prevent any improper conduct towards them, you are as soon after your arrival as conveniently may be, to cause a Proclamation in our Name to be published and dispersed through

that it may) it is evident that other measures must be resorted to than those which have yet been tried. Proclamations have been issued, rewards have been offered, and inducements otherwise held out which have occasionally tempted individuals to make the trial, but no good result has ever followed these efforts, because they have been always made by persons totally unfit for such a work.
    The obstacles to surmount in this case are so many, and so difficult, that for any promise of success to attend the enterprize, it must be undertaken by a man of no ordinary turn of mind, of considerable fortitude and perseverance, who would engage in it with some degree of enthusiasm, and be sensible to the honor with which he might expect his success to be crowned, as well as to the less worthy motives of interest.
    I have very sanguine hopes of having met with such a person in Lieutenant Buchan of the Adonis Schooner. The Orders which I have given to this Officer are in the (Appendix C.) He will execute them I am sure to the very utmost of his ability, and I have pledged my best interest to obtain promotion for him in the event of his success.
    The number of the Native Indians remaining does not appear to be known, nor can I find the means of forming any judgment of what it may be; but the prevailing idea is that they are about five hundred. A few families of the Micmac Indians from the Coast of Canada have been long settled in the neighbourhood of S^t George's and Fortune Bay; but they do no amount to more than seventy or eighty persons and the

our said Island of Newfoundland and parts adjacent, strictly enjoining and requiring all our Subjects to live in amity and kindness with the said Indians, and commanding the requiring all Officers and Magistrates to maintain and support good Order and behaviour towards them, and in case any Person or Persons shall Murder or Commit any outrage upon any of the said Indians, you and the said Magistrates are to use your utmost endeavours to apprehend and bring to Justice such Offenders; you are also to obtain the best account you are able of the number of the said Indians, the places they usually frequent for trading, the Countries from whence they come, the nature and extent of the Trade that is or may be carried on with them and how far the same may, in your opinion, be extended and improved.

only Trade which they carry on is in the Sale of a few furs occasionally to the Merchants. Other Indians from Nova Scotia and Canada come over occasionally to the northern parts of this Island to hunt; and perhaps it would be quite as well if they were prohibited from doing so, as little advantage is gained from an intercourse with them, and they destroy great numbers of animals for the sake of their furs, even when with young.
    A few of the Esquimaux also came over from Labrador, but our settlements are so remote that they do not frequently visit them. With these latter Indians I am informed that the Society of Unitas Fratrum carry on a considerable trade on the Continent, and I am sorry to add, impose upon them in a very shameful degree if the reports which have been made to me are founded in truth.

    Art.12^th No mines of any sort appear to have been worked in Newfoundland, nor have I been able to discover that any valuable mines exist. Coals have indeed been found, but never within less than twelve miles from the Water side, and by no means in a situation to be procured with advantage.

    12^th Whereas we did in the fifteenth year of our reign grant to John Agnew Esquire of Shewchan in the County of Wigton in North Britain and his Associates certain mines at Shoal Bay on the East Coast of our said Island of Newfoundland supposed to contain Copper Ore, one tenth part of which Ore by the special Condition of our said Grant is thereby reserved to us, our Heirs and Successors; We do therefore hereby direct and empower you our Governor or our Commander in Chief for the time being of our said Island of Newfoundland to take and receive one Tenth part of all such Metal Ore and Minerals as now are or hereafter shall be raised or extracted from the said mines, and to

    Art. 13^th I have not found that Birds of any kind frequent the Shores of Newfoundland in any considerable numbers.
    Having however understood that the Penguin Islands have been a great deposit for their eggs, and that persons have come in the spring from Halifax and otherwise, who made a constant practice of taking them away, and of destroying the Birds merely for the sake of their feathers, I have authorized a fisherman to take eggs there for his own use the next spring, on condition of his preventing al other persons from taking them, or from molesting the birds.

    Art. 14^th I have appointed Justices of the Peace as usual, and principally those gentlemen whom I found in the Commission.
    There appeared however to be a great want of proper persons to perform this important Office, as it would be quite inadmissible to entrust it to those who were concerned in the fishery, and thereby render them judges in their own cause; and in Newfoundland, in the Out Ports especially, there are very few Persons indeed who are not concerned in the fishery. It was certainly an object of moment to find in some sort a remedy for this inconvenience; and that which has

pay and make over the same to such Person or Persons as the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury shall appoint for that purpose, and you are further to enquire whether there are any other mines in our said Island of Newfoundland or Islands adjacent and whether they may be worked to advantage.

    13^th And whereas it has been represented to us that different Species of Birds frequenting the Shores of Newfoundland and the adjacent Islands which afford a supply of Food and of Bait and are useful in Fogs by warning Vessels that they are near Land, are frequently destroyed for the purpose of taking their feathers; It is our Will and pleasure that you do take such measures as in your opinion will effectually prevent their being so destroyed in future.

    14^th And whereas you are by our Commission authorized to constitute and appoint Justices of the Peace and other necessary Officers and Ministers for the administration of Justice and maintaining the Peace within the different parts of your Government, you are therefore upon your arrival in our said Island to enquire what Justices of the Peace are now in the Commission, in Order that in the new one to be issued you may nominate them, or such other Persons as shall appear to you to be proper for executing the Office of Justice of the Peace, and you are by your authority and influence to give all due support as well to our