Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-07-23

'ns ens 10 me protection solicited FOR the Fisheries
Tue coast el brush North America Her 3larsiys Go.
rnmcnt have taken into their serious con sideran The r
scnations upon this subject contained in vour
noted IN te margin, and have not Jailed observe tha
whilst active have been taken by certain pn
Jr HE purpose ui encouraging their fisheries of cpe
Jag The intrusion of foreign vessels it has been subject
complaint that impcdimcnts should been offered bv IN
policy 0! the Imperial Government 10 the enactment Of buur
lies considered by the local legislatures essential for the pre-
lection OF this trade Her MajesyS Ministers dcsiro
at removing oil grounds OF complaint the part of I'll
Coonles in consequence of encouragement OF the lrhn
vessels OF the United States upon from which the
ire excluded by the of the convention of lSlS
;hey therefore intend 10 despatch as possible
naval force OF steamers other small vessels cHforc
Ire Observance of that convention
Tnis is accompanied by the following
bounlies:
"With regard the question of promoting the fisheries
he british Colonies by the Of boun;es, Her Aans
ys Government though desrouS sanction any
y deviation from the policy which regulates the
OF this country still disincined 10 prevent these Colo
Mes by ntcrposition of imperial authority and especially
enlmg thc negotiation with the United States of 5mc.ict
io inc settlement OF the principles of which the
o me British North American Colonies hereafter
carried on from adopting the policy which they may deem
most conducive {" their prosperity and weIiars
Meantime and within the last ten days an American FISH
ng vessel called the Coral belonging Machias in Maine
mas been seized in the Bay Of Fundy near Grand Mcn.n
by the officer commanding Her M-lcstys cutler Nee al
ready arrived in that bay for alleged iniractun of
fishing convention the fishing vessel has been carried
10 The port of ST. Johns N. b. where proceedings
un uni absolle forfeiture
Besides the small naval force TO be sen. out by The mpe
al government the Colonies bes;irfing themselves also
or me protection Of Their fisheries Canada has fitted
" armed vessel 10 be stationed III The Gulf and this vessel
'as proceeded TO the fishing grounds having board moi
M commander and crew with power seize vessels
"'n n's, out also stpendary magistrate and civic po-
cc 10 make prisoners Of oil who are found ransnrrssne
he laws OF Canada in order 10 their being committed 10 Iai!
IN thai colony for trla The colony of Newfoundland has
fixed aimed vessel the pupose m ressIinu ,br
.ncoacinens Of French fishing on the sst of La
braof bu; ready sail from her port the Governor Of
mat colony acting under imperial Instructions refused 10
give The commander o the colonial Vessel the necessary
u!sfiy for nakrg prize of French vessels found
passing
taken III connection with the fact that like authority 10
seize American fishing vessels under similar crcus
has never been refused 10 The cruzers OF any Of the Norm
American Colonies. The colony 0t Nova Scotia has
four armed cruzers well manned its coasts, ready IL
"unce upon any American vessels who may accidentally
other" hc found fishing within the limits defined By III,
crown officers u England. New Brunswick has agreed
with Canada and Nova Scotia place in the Bay
:" Fundy 10 look after Americans fishing and Prince
Edwards lslan and her MaeSys frigats Devssa-
ton has been placed under ihs instructions OF the
OF the colony The first article of the convention net ween
the United States and Great Britain of the 10Th October
ISIS, is in these words
"Wheress, differences have arisen respecting the lbcrt,
claimed by the Uncd States for the inhabitants thereof
ak" dry and cnre fish certain couss hays harbors md
creeks of His Brlannic Maestys domnions in America
tits agreed between the high contracting par that th
inhabitants OF the said United States shall forever IL
His Britannia Majesty the b
nty take fish OF every Kind that part of The southern
coast of Newfoundland which extends from Cape Ray To
the Rnneu Islands the and northern coasts %!
said Newfoundland from the said Cape Ray the Qurpon
Islands the shores of the Magdaen Islands also
the coasts bays, harbors and creeks from Mt. jolly
the southern coast Of Labrador and through th,
straits OF Belle Isle and thence norhwardy indefinitely
along the coast without prejudice however to any of the
exclusive rights of HudSuns Bay Company and that the
American fishermen shall also have liberty forever TO dry
and fish in any Of the unsettled bays harbos and creeks
vi tic southern part OF the Of Newfoundland here
above described and oil the of Labrador; but
The same, portion shall be settled IL shall not be
lawful tor the said fishermen dry fish such por
ton settled without previous agreement for such purpose
with the ina5tan1 propsors possessos Of the ground
And me United States hereby renounce forever any lib
cry heretofore enjoyed claimed by the inhabitants there
u 10 ase, dry fish within three marine miles
ab8Q III hays GIeeks 9rIafbors OF his BI,apnc
lean fishermen shall be admitted TO enter eucn pays "
tor the purpose shelter and OF repairing
Ihren and purchasing wood and obtaining water anu o
Other purpuse whatever But they shall be under suc
strjcons as may necessary TO prevent their taxing
ever abusing the privileges hereby reserved them"
1t would appear that by strict and rgu u
this article fishing vessels Of the United States are peclueeo
rom entering into bays and habors Of the British foVnces
exrep for rhc purposes shelter repairing DAMAGES and
obtaining wood and water bay as IS nsuaS NV
is sn arm or recess the entering from the ocean o
tween capes and headands and the Term Is aPp"u saus
10 small and large Of water thus situated IS CON-
mon 10 speak oil Hudson Bay the Bay OF Bscay athoush
NAV are ,ery large tracts The British authorities
insist that England has right draw line from mead
land headand and TO capture all American shermeh "no
may follow their pursuits inside Of that line.
1t was undoubtedly oversight in the convention oi
1913 10 make large concession 10 England, since ie
United States has usually considered that These vast nGs
or recesses OF ocean, ought ~ be open 10 american s
erIen us freely the itself 10 within tnfee marine
miles OF the shore. In lSIl the Legislature OF NOVA coa
oposcd case for consideration OF the Advocate Uehe
raj and Attorney General of England upon the true con-
struc,on Of this article Of the Convention.
The opinion delivered by these officers OF the crown was
aatb The terms OF the Convention American czens were
cxcucd from any right Of fishing within hrec Ines rom ie
coast British America and that the prescribed distance vi
three miles TO be measured from the hcadlans or eAe
uniut land the of the coast, OF OF Inc entrance
bays or nden:s OF the coast and consequently hat no
exists on the part of American citizens TO enter e pay
Nova Scotia there take fish, although iishlns, oe!he
within tho 6ay be II greater distance i'Hn u Se
miles from the shore Of The bay As we are OF opinion a M
term headland used in the express me part o.
land we have before meGtioned including the interior VI e
bays and the ndcnts of the cnas
Ills construction OF the intent and meaning Oh t'
convention vi 1915 for which the colonies nave cohtenGe
Stree Isl and which they have desired shouu "e
This ne English government has now wouia appear
ted d. and the immediate effect WIZ DC inc oss
The valuable fall fishing To American ilshees G"h'e
of The extensive business Of New England NJ
tended nv constant collision Of the most unpleasant anu
rpr character, which may end IN the ueslruc", VI ~
MN M, in the Involvement Of the government IN qucs
ons If yery serious nature threatening the peace ol W
two countries. 49,, , o, -,
Nt au,einu that the construction thus put upon IN
treaty is canormabe the intention Oh INC cont'o'n
n.s this information is however made public, TO the en-
mai those concerned in the American fisheries may con
ceive how The case present stands and DO upon 'he
uard The whole subject will engage ne nnea1n n''e'i
80 - ,h r, C,nvarnmeni DANIEL WEBSTER,
' " ~ Secretary oi state