Mr. PIKE. There are 2 reasons why the amendment I offer should pass. One is that it is but a trifle more than the tariff proposed by the ComWays&Means to the anadian commissioners under schedule B. Some kinds of fish are somewhat more, but the average is but little greater. I know the Cana dians did not like that schedule, and probably for that reason the committee change it. But it gives the rates the committee think ought to be established, and I agree with them. Another reason is, that this bill repeals the fishing bountics. Our people have confidently expected that the established polic of the country would not be now overthrown.They had a right to suppose that laws coeval with the formation of the government, and forming a system which had survived all political parties for 3 quarters of a century, would not he suddenly struck down, and without a warning notice to those interested in it. Confidently expecting stability in this legislation, they invested their money. Large investments have clung around the system. It is grossly unfair now to strike off all protection and leave a worthy and patriotic class of men exposed to competition which, for the reasons I gave the other day, must be ruine us and why should it be done? It is particularly annoying to the people interested3 in fisheries that a system of) bounties which has resisted all domestic attacks up to this time should be made to yield to the demands of Nova Scotians. If the report of the ComCommerce, made the other day, had been adopted we should have had the satisfaction of knowin that the bounties had at last given we. to what was claimed to he the general goo. But to have them now thrown in as a placebo to provincial legislation is adding insult to injury and why do it? Are the committee afraid that the Provinces will get mad if we exercise our right to tax what we please and when we please, and to protect our own industries as we choose? Fisheries are truly said to be the nurseries of commerce. In our case they are, to a considerable extent, American commerce itself. It is well known that our deep sea tonnage is manned by foreigners. The shipping lists of NewYork are filled up with foreign names having American 4protections." Iknow the law is otherwise, but the fact is as I state it. 9 out of ten of sailors on board our ships are foreigners. The coasting trade has a mix ture. the fisheries are almost purely American. A foreigner in one of our fishing smacks is as scarce as a white blackbird. If we would encourage an American commerce we must cultivate and protect our fisheries. The scale of duties I propose is not far from 25%. of a fair valuation. I do not make them advalorem because of the probability of fraud. We know what the real value is, but what it would be sworn to be at Halifax who can say? The average of duties upon the importations of the country is about 40%. In asking for 25%. upon this article we are largely within the mark, and I feel as if our request should be granted without hesitation. Surely the House will not strike down the fishing bounties without a word of warning to valuable and confiding interests, and then refuse the average protection that other branches of industry receive at the hands of Government. It would be uotonly ungenerous, but the extreme of bad faith.