New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-07-27
Difficulty with England.

Difficulty with England. s5.
1He.ameriean Flsheries-D Departmental State.
l. WASHINGTON, July 8, 1862.
Information of an official character has been
received at this Department to the following eff
feet: WI
The late Ministry of England was opposed TO
| the granting Of bounties on principle, and in
consequence it steadily refused to give the me-
cessary assent to the acts of the Colonial Legis-
latnre granting bounties to. the fisheries. The
Colonies complained severally Of this interfe-
renee with their local affairs, and they further
complain that the Government declined to en- 2,
force the provisions Of the fishery Convention Of
1878, and thereby permitted American fisher
men to encroaeh on the best fishing grounds,
from which, under the legal construction 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 Colonies,
Sir John Buckingham, has addressed a circular
letter to the Governors of the several North
american Colonies, IN extract of which is as
follows:
DOWNING STREET, May 90, 1S52.-Among the
many pressing subjects which have engaged the
attention of Her Majesty's Ministers, since their
assumption Of office, few have been more impor-
tant in their estimation than the questions re-
latng to the protection solicited for the fisheries
Of the coasts Of British North America. Her
Majesty s Government have taken into their Sc
rious consideration the presentations upon this
subject, contained in your dispatches noted in
the margin, and have not failed to observe that
whilst active measures have been taken by GER
tain colonies for the purpose Of encouraging
their fsheries, and of repelling the intrusion Of
foreign vessels, it has been subject Of COM
pl amt that impedimants should have been offer
ed BY the policy Of the Imperial Government, to
the enactment Of bounties, considered by the
local Legislatures essential for the protection Of
this trade Her Majesty's Ministers are desi-
rous Of removing fairgrounds Of complaint on the
part of the Colonies, in consequence of encour-
agement Of the fishing vessels Of the United
States upon waters from which they are ex-
cluded by the terms Of the Convention Of 1878,
and they therefore intend to dispatch, ag soon
as possible, small naval force Of steamers, or
other small vessels to enforce the observance Of
that Convention
his announcement is accompanied by the
following as to bounties: IA
ST With regard to the question of promoting
the fisheries Of the British Colonies by the means
Of bonnties, Her Majesty's Government, though
desirous to sanction any unnecessary deviation
from the policy which regulates the commerce
Of this country, are still disinclined to prevent
these Colonies by interposition Of imperial
authority, and especially pending the negotia-
ton with the United States of America for, the
settlement Of the principles Of which the COM
merce of the British North American Colonies
il hereafter to be carried on, from adopting the
policy which they may deem most conducive to
their own prosperity and welfare
: Ndenntins, and within the last ten days, an
American fishing vessel called the Coral, belong
ing TO Machias, Maine, has been seized in the
Bay of Fundy, near Grand Menan, by the Off
Ger commanding her Majesty's cutter Netley,
already arrived in that Bay, for an alleged
infraction of the Fishing Convention, and the
fishing vessel has been carried to the port of st.
John, N b., where proceedings have been taken
in the Admiralty Court with a view to her con-
domination and absolute forfeiture. Besides the
small naval force to be gent out by the Imperial
Government, the Colonies are bestirring them
selves also for the profession of their fisheries.
Canada has fitted out an armed vessel to be sta
toned in the Gulf, and this vessel has pro-
ceeded to the fishing grounds, having on board
not only naval commander and crew, with
power to seize vessels within limits, but also a
magistrate and civil police to make
prisoners Of all who are found transgressing the
laws of Canada, in order to their being COM
mitted to jail in that colony for trial The col
ony of Newfoundland has fitted out an armed
vessel for the purpose of resisting the encroaeh
ments Of French fishing vessels on the coast of
Labrador, but when ready to saffron her port,
the Governor of that colony, acting under i'm
perial Instructions, refused to give the COM
manderof the colonial vessel the necessary au-
thority for making prize Of French vessels found
trespassing This is an extraordinary circum-
stance, especially when taken in connection
with the fact that the like authority to seize
American fishing vessels under similar circum-
stances has never been refused to the cruisers of
any of the North American Colonies. The col
ony of Nova Scotia has now four armed cruisers
well manned on its coasts ready to pounce upon
any American vessels who may accidentally or
otherwise be found fishing within the limits
defined by the Grown 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
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, of the Goth
October, 1878, is in these words: g Whereas,
differences have arisen respecting the liberty
claimed by the United States for the inhabitants
thereof to take, dry, and cure fish on certain
coasts, bays. harbors and creeks of His Britain
MIC Majesty dominions in America, it is agreed
between the high contracting parties that the
habitants of the said United States shall have
forever, in common with the subjects of His
Britannia Majesty the liberty to take fish of
every kind on that part Of the Southern coast of
Newfoundland which extends from Cape Ray to
the Rameau Islands on the Western and North
ern coasts Of said Newfoundland from the said
Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands on the shores
of the Magdalen Islands and also on the South
ern coasts, bays, harbors and creeks from Mt,
jolly on the Southern coast of the Labrador to
and through the Straits of Belle Isle and thence
northwardly indefinitely along the coast with
out prejudice however to any of the cSclusiy We
rights Of the Hudson's Bay Company and that
the American fishermen shall also have liberty
forever to dry and cure fish in any Of the unset
tied bays, harbors and creeks Of the Southern
part of the coast of Newfoundland hereabove
described, and off the coast Of Labrador, but so
soon as the same or any portion thereof shall be
settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fisher
men to dry or cure fish at such portion so set
tied without previous agreement for such pur-
pose, with the inhabitants, proprietors or pos
SCISSORS of the ground
&c And the United States hereby renounce for
ever any liberty heretofore enjoyed or claimed
by the inhabitants thereof to take, dry or cure
fish on OF within three marine miles of any of
the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbors Of his Bri-
tanic Majesty's dominions in America not in.
cluded within the above mentioned limits Pro-
vided, however, that the American fishermen
shall be permitted to enter such bays or harbors
for the purpose Of shelter and of repairing dam
ages therein, and purchasing wood and obtaining
and for, nt