New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-20
(By rs,svspsJ
IMPORTANT OFFICIAL DISPATCH.
POSSIBLE COLLISION WITH ENGIAnDI
1.-THE follosoing important Dispatch 'ods
,sblished in portion Of our Morning
Edition Of yesterday:l
no AUttfftH
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,


-e The American Fisheries
o~x,<,.,1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, s.
WASHINGTON, July o 1907
Information of an official character mas
been received at this Department, to the following
effect:
The late Ministry of England was opposed to
The granting Of bounties on principle, and III con-
seouence il steadily refused to give the necessary
.seent 20 acts Of the Colonial Legislature grant
;ns bountics to the fisheries. The Colonies COM
nlsined seyeraly Of this interference with their
local affairs, and they further complain that the
Government declined to enforce the provisions of
sbe Fishery Convention Of 1918, and thereby per-
nitted American fishermen to encroach upon the
best fishing grounds, from which, under the legal
construction Of the treaty, they ought to be ex-
sluded.
With the recent change of Ministry in England
has occurred TN entire change of policy. Inc
present Secretary Of State for the Colonies or
John Packington, has addressed circular ie'eer
70 the Governors of the several North Amencan
Colones an extract from which is as follows:
: DowNrNosr., May &C. 1852.
Among the many pressing SUBJECTS wnch nave
ENGAGED the attention Of Her Majesty's Ministers
since their assumption of office, few nave oeeh
more important, in their estimation, than the ques
lions relating to the protecuoa solicited Ior Ino
FISHERIES on the Coasts of British North America
He, Ms;est,'s Government have taken into their
serous consideration the representations upon tois
,uh;ect contained in yOar dispatches noted IN the
s;n and have not failed to observe that while
active measures have been taken by certain Colo
MES for the purpose of encouraging Their hsheres
and Of repeing the intrusion OF foreign vessels, IL
tof ofsaTalaI inf m
shouh have been offered by the policy OF the Inn
perisl Government to the enactment of bOuntes
considered by the local Legislatures the
nyotectiou Of this trade. Her Majesty Ministers
are DESTROYS ofremoviDg all grounds OF complaint on
the part ofthe Colonies in consequence ofencroacn-
ments Of the fishing vessels OF the United states
upon those waters from which they are excluded
by the terms of the Convention OF 1878, and they
therefore intend to dispatch as soon as possible a
small naval force OF steamers, or other small YES
sels. to enforce the observance OF that Conyen-
ton.
4. This announcement is accompanied by the fol-
lowing as to bountes:
"With regard to the question OF promo
ting the fisheries of the British Colonies
by the means of bounties, Her MaJesty's Gov
eminent though desirous not to sanction any I'M
necessary deviation from the policy which regu-
lates the commerce of this country, are still DIS
inclined to prevent these Colonies, by the interpo-
sItOn Of imperial authority, and especially pending
the negotiation with the United States of America
for the settlement OF the principles on which the
commerce Of the British North American Colo
MES is hereafter to be carried on, from adopting
the policy which they may deem most conducive
to their own prosperity and welfare"
The vessels of war mentioned in the above circu-
lar dispatches expected to be on the coasts OF
British North America during the present month
tJuly,) when, no doubt, seizures will begin to be
made Of American fishing vessels, which, in the
autumn, pursue their business in indents on the
coast from which it is contended they are ex-
cluded by the Convention of 1918.
Meantime, and within the last ten days, an
American fishing vessel called the Coral belonging
to Maehias in Maine has been seized in the Bay Of
Fundy near Grand Menan by the officer COM
mandng her Majesty's cutter Netley, already ar
rived in that bay, for an alleged infracton of the
Fishing Convention, and the fishing vessel has been
carried to the port of st. John, N. b.. where pre-
ceediDgs have been taken in the Admiralty Court
with view to her condemnation and absolute for
fixture.
Besides the small naval force to be sent out by
the Imperial Government, the Colonies are bestir-
ring themselves also for the protection of their
fisheries. Canada has fitted out an armed vessel
to be stationed in the Gulf and this vessel has pro-
eeeded TO the fishing grounds, having on board
not only a naval commander and crew, with
power to seize vessels within limits but also
stipendiary magistrate and civil police, to make
prisoners OF ali who are found transgressing the
laws of Canada, in order to their being COM
mitted to jail in that Colony for trial. The Colony
of Newfoundland has fitted out an armed vessel for
the purpose of resisting the encroachments of
French fishing vessels ON the coast of Labrador,
but when ready to sail from her port, the Cover
nor OF that Colony, acting under imperial instruc-
tions, refused to give the commander of this colo
NAL vessel the necessary authority for making
prize Of French vessels found trespassing.
This is an extraordinary circumstance, especial
ly WHEN taken in connection with the fact that the
like authority to seize American fishing vessels
under similar circumstances has never been re-
fused to the cruisers of any of the North American
Colonies. The Colony Of Nova Scotia has now
four armed cruisers, well manned, on its coasts,
ready to pounce upon any American vessels who
NAV, accidentally or otherwise, be fouad fishing
within the limits defined by the Crown officers Of
England.
New. Brunswick has agreed with Canada and
Nova Scotia to place cutter in the Bay Of Fundy
to look after Americans fishing there and at Prince
Edwards island, and her Majestys steam frigate
Devastation has been placed under the instructions
OF the Governor OF that Colony. The first article
Of the Convention between the United States and
Great Britain, ofthe Goth October, 1918. in these
words:
"WAareas, Differences have arisen respecting the
liberty claimed by the United States for the inhabitants
thereof TO take dry, and cure fsh certain coasts,
bays hsrbors and creeks Of His Britannia Msesty's
dOminions In America Il IL agreed between the high
contracting parties that the inhabitants of the said United
States shall have forever In common with the subjects
OF His Britannia Majesty the liberty TO take hsh OF every
Kind that part Of the Southern Coast OF Newfoundland
which exiencs from Cape Ray TO the Raneau Islands
the Western and Northern Coasts of said Newtound-
land from the said Cape Ray 30 the Quirpon Islands
the shores OF the Msgdalen Islands, and also the
southern coasts, bays, bsrbOrs and creeks from Mt
Jolly On the southern coast Of Labrador to and
through the Stats IT Belle Isle, aud theoce nsrth.
wsEdy indefinitely along the coast without prejudice
however 10 any OF the exclusive rights of the dadsen
Bay Company, and that the American fishermen shall
also have liberty forever TO dry and 6sh Ia aay OF
the unsettled bays harbors and creeks of the southern
part Of the Coast of described
and Of the Coast OF Labrador, but the sans
or any portion thereof shall be settled shall not be
lawful for the said fishermen to dry fish at such