16 



Representative Morse was of the opinion that the present adminis- 

 tration would not be able to make a reciprocity treaty, and suggested 

 that steps be taken to acquaint the incoming administration with the 

 real grievances of the fishing interest and the right it desires to se- 

 cure. 



Representative Collins said there was in Washington only a mere 

 rumor of Canadian reciprocity, which he did not think could materi- 

 alize, and declared that the reciprocity treaty now about to expire 

 was a fraud and a cheat upon our people. 



Representative Lovering said that so far as his investigation went 

 he had found no one extremely anxious for a renewal or continuance 

 of the fishery treat}', except, perhaps, our Canadian friends, who 

 have had things their own way undex its provisions, and was of the 

 opinion that its operation would cease in July in accordance with the 

 expressed desire of our Government. 



On motion of George Steele, Esq., a committee of five was appoint- 

 ed to report a plan for future action, as follows : George Steele of 

 Gloucester ; 0. B. Whitten of Portland ; Freeman Emery of Boston ; 

 N. D. Freeman of Provincetown ; and William P. Herrick of Swan's 

 Island. 



The committee appointed for that purpose presented the following 

 resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : 



Whereas, the Government of the United States, by treaty of 1818 

 with Great Britain, took from fishermen of the United States rights 

 guaranteed them by treaty of 1783 to fish in all waters bordering on 

 the coast of the British possessions of North America, excepting a 

 small portion of the coast of Newfoundland and the Magdalen Is- 

 lands, and the right to go upon the shores thereof for the purpose of 

 curing fish, and to enter the ports of the British provinces for the 

 purpose of procuring supplies, without either obtaining from the 

 British government any equivalent for the fishermen or making any 

 compensation to them for the right thus summarily taken from them, 

 and, whereas, the surrender of our rights has been a source of great 

 annoyance and injury to our fishermen, and our vessels have been 

 unjustly seized by armed cruisers for alleged violation of the stipula- 

 tions of the treaty by which their rights were surrendered, and con- 

 demned in the colonial courts without legal authority, and that to an 

 extent to make it unsafe for our vessels to pursue the legitimate voy- 



