manner in which the business was carried on, and was equally prompt in taking measures for its protection. In a despatch dated 25th October of that year, now on fyle in the Record Office in London, Patterson wrote to Lord Hillsborough as follows:
"Agreeable to Your Lordship's directions, given me at your office, the last time I had the honor of seeing you before I left London, I made as soon as possible after my arrival, all the enquiry I could into the manner of carrying on the Sea Cow Fishery at this island, and finding there were likely to be disputes between a Mr. Gridley, who lives on one of the Magdalen Islands, for the purpose of carrying on the same sort of fishery there; as he generally sends people to this island either to take the Sea Cows, or to prevent their landing and by that means force them to resort to the Magdalens; and some New England fishermen, who frequently land for a few days, to kill sea cows, and the inhabitants of this island, who have endeavoured to carry it on for some time past and fearing by that means the fishery might be rendered useless to all parties, if not entirely ruined, I have, by the advice of His Majesty's Council, passed an Act for the better regulation of it, which will be herewith transmitted to Your Lordship, that I may know His Majesty's pleasure concerning it."
So far as I can learn this was the very first legislation of the new government. I suspect that his Excellency, the Governor, himself was "His Majesty's Council," and that it was his own advice upon which he acted.
Lord Hillsborough, in his reply, dated Whitehall, 2nd January, 1771, says:
