Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-07-29
TPROPRIETORS.

or haroors Tor the purpose of shelter ani %:
repairing damages therein. and purchasing
wood and o'aaining water and for no other
purpose whatever. Bur they shall be under
>uch restrictions as ma, he necessary TO pre-
vent iheiriaking. dry ing. or cnrng 6-h herein,
or in any other manner " hatever. ehusing the
privileges hereby reserved them.
| 1t would appear that by strict and rigid
construction of this article. fishing vessel. Of
the United Statesare prccludrd from entering
into bays and lsrbors Of the British Prov incrs,
escept Tor the purpose of shelter repairing
damages. anu attaining u ood aud nter. A
hay as Is usually understood is an arm or re
cess of the sra entering from the ocean h.tw cen
cares AID headlands. and the term is applied
'q,aily 10 small ard large tracts Of at..r thus
situated. II is common 10 speak OF Hudson
Bay or the Bayof Biscay. slthough they are
very larg. tracts Of water. The British an
thorities insist that England has u right To
draw a line from head!snd to headand, AMI
TO capture all American fishermen Who may
follow their pursuits inside ofthat line
II was undoubtedly an oversight in the Con.
vention of 1918, TO make so large conc essinn
10 England. since the United States has usual
" considered that these vast inlets or recesses
ofrhe ocean. oueht TO he open 10 American
fisher men. as freely as the sea itself. To within
three marine miles ofthe shore. In 1881. the
Legislature Of Nova Scotia proposed case
for the consideration Of the Advocate General
and Attorney General of England uron the
true construction ofthis article Of The Conven
ton.
The opinion delivered by these officers Of
the crown was. ihn, BY the terms Of the Con-
vrniion. mercan citizens We're excluded from
any right of fishing " within three miles from the
coast OF British America. and that the pre-
scrihed distance ofthrce miles is to lie meas
ured from the headan.is or extreme point Of
land nexi the sea, Of the coast. "r Of the enter
ance of bays or ind-nrs of the coast. and cons...
quently no right exists on the part Of Amtri
can citizens To enter the Bay of Nova Scotia
| there 10 take fish. although fishing being with
| in the hay. may be at greater distance three
miles from the shore If the hay. As we are
"fopinon that he term headland is used in the
treaty TO express the part Of The land we have
hefoe mentioned. including the interior of tn.
bays and the inIets of the coast.
The vessels OF war mentioned in the above
circular despatch are expected to be upon the
coast of British North America during the
present mnnth. July when. we Doubt moi
seizures iIllesin to he made of A mercan f.h-
ing vessels. " hich in the autumn pursue their
business nttnts on the coast. from which It is
contrndr,l that they are excluded by the Con
venrion If 1918.
ltis this construction ofthe intent and mean
ing of the Convention Of 1918 for " lnich the
colonies have contended since 1871. and
which they have desired should he enforced
This the English government has now. it
would appear. consented to do, and the imme-
''i,tt effect will he tn. loss OF the valuable fall
fishing to American fisheries, a complete in.
ferrupton of the extensive business OF New
England. attended by constant collision of
the most unpleasant and exciiing cha, ac,er,
which may end in the destruction Of human life,
the Involvement Of the go. ernme"t in Iues.
Ton ot very serious nature. Threatening the
peace Of the two countries.
Not agreriag that the construction thus rut
upon the irea'yis conformabIe to the intention
ct The contracting parties. this information is
however made public, to the end that those
concerned in the American fisheries NAV per
ce've how the case at present stands, and he
upon their guard. The whole subject will
engage the immediate attention of Govern
meni. DANIEL WERSTER
Secretary Of State.