Sulivan to Vice-Admiral Sir E. Inglefield, June 19, 1878

Captain Sulivan to Vice-Admiral Sir E. Inglefield.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, in obedience to your orders, I left Halifax on Saturday, the 8th instant, and proceeded to Fortune Bay, for the purpose of inquiring into the circumstances connected with the quarrel between the English and American fishermen in Long Harbor in January last, arriving off Brunet Island on the evening of Monday, the 10th. I anchored there for the night, the weather being thick, with fogs gathering; and on the evening of the 11th weighed and proceeded to Long Harbor, at the entrance of which the same afternoon I learnt that the “Pert” was at the head of the harbor (about 9 miles off). I therefore proceeded through the narrows and anchored in 6 fathoms about 7 miles from the entrance, and observed the “Pert” anchored about 3 miles farther in, when I recalled her, and on the following day anchored in company with her 4 miles farther down off Tickle Beach, where we found the disturbance of January last had taken place.

• On this beach are two huts, occupied by fishermen who witnessed the affair, and having taken their evidence, which, with other evidence subsequently taken, will be forwarded with my report hereafter, we proceeded to Metter’s Cove, where a fisherman named Tharnell and another were examined on the same subject.
• From information given by them I proceeded to St. Jacques the same afternoon, where, from Mr. Snellgrove, subcollector of customs, who was present at Tickle Beach shortly after the disturbance, and others who had witnessed the whole transaction, I obtained further important evidence, which, with my report, will be forwarded at the earliest opportunity when complete.
• There have been at these places several complaints made to me on various subjects by some of the witnesses, disputes relative to land property and reports of barring herring, one being that a seine had been laid for this illegal purpose, and had been so for some days; in consequence of which I directed Captain Aitchison to proceed to the spot said to be barred and ascertain the truth of the information.
• The “Pert” rejoined at Saint Jacques, and reported having found the seine as described, and taken possession of it. In other cases of complaint I was only able to take the evidence of those witnesses present at the time; but in the absence of others away fishing; I had to postpone the cases until my return from St. John’s.
• On Monday, the 17th, I directed the “Pert” to proceed to St. John’s to coal, prior to her leaving for the east coast, and the same afternoon I left St. Jacques in this ship for St. John’s, where I arrived yesterday at 7 p.m., the mail from England for Halifax arriving a few hours afterward, and leaving early this morning.
• I am unable to forward more than this letter, as the report on the subject of the American outrage is not complete; but the evidence is most complete, the witnesses corroborating each other, and goes completely to prove the Americans were entirely in the wrong, and brought the quarrel on themselves, first by illegally fishing and then by threatening them with a revolver.
• I found on arrival the “Contest” at anchor, and the “Pert” arrived this morning, to await further orders.

I have, &c.,