The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-08-03
IMPORTANT OFFICIAL DESPATCH!
Possible Collision with England
t II Z AMERICAN FISHERIES.
DEPARrMEyr OF STATE,
Washington, July 8, les

ton of an official character has boen received
at this Department, to the following effect:
The late Ministry of England was opposed
to the granting of bountes on principle and
in consequence it steadily refused to give the
necessary assent to tho acts of tho Colonial
Legislature granting bounties to the fisheries
The Colonies complained severely of this in
reference with their local affairs, and they
further complain that the Government declin-
ed to enforce the provisions of tho Fishery
Convention of 1918, and thereby permitted
American fishermen to encroach upon the best
fishing grounds, from which, under tho legal
constructions of the treaty they ought to be
| excluded
With the recent change of Ministry in Eng
] land has occurred an entire change of policy.
| The present Secretary of State for the Colo
nies, Sir John Rockingham has addressed a
circular letter to the Governors of the several
North American Colonies, an extract from
which is as follows
DOWNING STREET, May &c, 1852.
| Among the many pressing subjects, which
have engaged tho attention of Her Alajestys
Ministers since their assumption of Office, few
have been more important in their estimation,
that the questions relating to the protection
solicited for the Fisheries OF the Coasts of Brit
ish North America. Her Maesty's Govern
ment have taken into their serious considera-
| ton the presentations upon this subject, con
tanned in your dispatches noted in the margin,
and have not failed to observe that while active
measures havo been taken by certain colonies,
for the purpose of encouraging their fisheries,
and Of repelling the intrusion Of foreign vess-
els. IL h s been subject of complaint that
impedimen,s should have been offered by the
policy of the Imperial Government to the en-
actment of bounties considered by the local
legislatures essential for the protection of this
trade. Mer Majes,y's Ministers arc desirous
of removing all grounds of complaint on the
part of the colonies, in consequence oe en-
croachment of the fishing vessels of tho U.
States upon waters from which they are exclu-
ded by the terms Of the Convention of 1918,
and they therefore intend TO dispatch as soon
as possible small naval force of steamers,
or other small vessels, to enforce the obsery-
ance of that Convention.
This announcement is accompanied by the
| following as to bounties
With regard to the question of promoting
the fisheries of the British Colonies by the
means of bountics, Her Majesty's Government,
though desirous to sanction any unnecessary
deviation from tho policy which regulates tho
commerce of this country, are still disenclined
to prevent these colonies, by intcrposition of
imperial authority, and especially pending the
negotiation with tho United States of Amc-
rica for tho settlement of the principles of
which the commerce of the British North
American Colonies is hereafter 10 be carried
on from adopting the policy which they may
deem most conductive to their own prosperity
| and welfare.
Meantime, and within the last ten DAYS an
American fishing vessel called tho Coral. be-
longing to Machias, in Maine, has been seized
in the Bay of Fundy near Grand Menan, by
the officer commanding her Majesty's cutter
Netley, already arrived in that Bay for all al
legged infraction of the fishing convention, and
the fishing vessel has been carried TO the port
of st. Johns, N. b.. where proceedings have
been taken in the Admiralty Court with
view to her condemnation and absolute for
| feiturc.
| Besides the small naval force to be sont out
by the Imperial Government. the Colonies arc
bestirring themselves also for the protection of
their fisheries. Canada has fitted out an
| armed vessel TO be stationed in the Cult, and
| this vessel has proceeded t. tho fishing
grounds having on board naval commander
and crew with power to seize vessels Within
| limits.
But also stipcndary magistrate and civil
| police to make prisoners of al who are found
transgressing the laws of Canada, in order to
their being committed to jail in that colony for
trial The colony of Newfoundland has fitted
ing the cncroachments of French fishing vess-
els on the coast of Labrador, but when ready
to sail from her port, tho Governor of that
colony acting under imperial instructions, re-
fused to give the commander Of the Coloial
vessel the necessary authority for making prize
of French vessels found trespassing.
This is on extraordinary circumstances, es-
pecially when teken in connection with the
fact that the like authority to seize American
fishing vessels under similar circumstances
has never been refused TO the cruisers of any
of the North American colonies. The colony
Of Nova Scotia has now four armed cruisers,
well manned, on It's coasts, ready to pounce
upon any American vessels who may, acci-
dently or otherwise be found ishing within
the limits defined by tho Crown officers of
England.
New Brunswick has agreed with Canada
and Nova Scotia to place cutter in tho Bay
of Fundy to look after Americans fishing there
and at Prince Edward Island, and her Majesty's
steam Frigate Deiestation has been placed
under the instructions Of the Governor of that
Colony. The first article of tho Convention
between the United States and Great Britain,
of the Goth October, 1918, is in these words
Here follows an abstract of tho treaty,
which we have not time to copy.]
1t would appear that by strict and rigid
construction of this article, fishing vessels oi
the United States are precludcd from enter
ing into bays and harbors of tho British Pro-
vinces, except for the purposes of shelter, re-
pairing damages, and obtaining wood and
water. A bay as is usually understood is an
arm or recess of tho sea entering from the
ocean between capes and headlands, and the
term is applied equally to small and largo
tracts Of water thus situated. II is common
to speak of Hudson Bay or the Bay Of Biscay.
although they are very laroe tracfs of wa,er
The British authorities insist that England
has right to draw a line from headland to
headland, and to capture all American fisher
men who may follow thcr pursuits inside of
that line. 1t was undoubtedly an oversight in
the Convention of 1918. TO mako so large
concession to England, since the United
State had usually considered that those