In transmitting the enclosed documents, relative to the employment of the brig Active in the whale fishery, which I promised on Saturday, and the only opportunity afforded me since my own former extensive speculations in the fishery ceased by misfortunes and other circumstances unnecessary to state. allow me to observe that when a comparison is drawn between the exorbitant lays or shares paid to the crews of our colonial vessels with vessels fitted out from London and other English ports, the difference in favor of the latter will in my opinion be found fully adequate to the superiority the colonists enjoy in being in the vicinity of the fishery, and consequently should the present duties on oil be repealed we will then be only on a par with the English whalers, the outfit of which may be considered at a third less than the colonial vessels in the present state of the colony as all the articles (provisions excepted) requisite for their equipment are imported from the Mother Country at an advance of at least 75 per cent.

If the foregoing observation is worthy of your notice it will be gratifying to me.