278 



ten years, have been excluded from waters to which they had free 

 access for twenty-five years afier tlie negotiation of the treaty. In 

 1845, this exclusion was relaxed so far as concerns the Bay of I'undy, 

 but the just and liberal intention of the home government, in comph- 

 ance with what we think the true construction of the convention, to 

 open all the other outer bays to our fishermen, was abandoned, in con- 

 sequence of the opposition of the colonies. Notwithstanding this, the 

 United States have, since the Bay of Fundy was reopened to our fish- 

 ermen in 1845, pursued the most liberal course towards the colonial 

 fishing interests. By the revenue law of 1846, the duties on colonial 

 fish entering our ports were very greatly reduced, and, by the ware- 

 housing act, it is allovk^ed to be entered In bond without payment of 

 duty. In this way, colonial fish has acquired the monopoly of the ex- 

 port trade in our market, and is entering, to some extent, into the home 

 consumption. These facts were among those which increased the sen- 

 sibihty of our fishing Interest at the movement in question. 



" These circumstauces, and the incidents above alluded to, have led 

 me to think the moment favorable for a reconsideration of the entire 

 subject of the fisheries on the coasts of the British provinces, with a 

 view to place them upon a more liberal footing of reciprocal privilege. 

 A wlllininiess to meet us in some arran2:en:!ent of this kind Is understood 

 to exist on the part of Great Britain, with a desire on her part to in- 

 clude in one comprehensive settlement as well this subject as the com- 

 mercial intercourse between the United States and the British provinces. 

 I have thought that, whatever arrangements may be made on these 

 two subjects. It Is expedient that they should be embraced in separate 

 conventions. The ilhiess and death of the late Secretary of State pre- 

 vented the commencement of the contemplated negotiation. Pains have 

 been taken to collect the information required for the details of such an 

 arrangement. The subject is attended with considerable difficulty. 

 If It is found practicable to come to an agreement mutually acceptable 

 to the two parties, conventions may be concluded in the course of the 

 present winter. The control of Congress over all the provisions of such 

 an arrangement, affecting the revenue, will of course be reserved." 



Our latest accounts from two of the British colonies show that oppo- 

 sition is still manifested to an adjustment of the dispute on terms which 

 would be satisfactory to the United States. 



The resolutions which follow, and which were adopted at a public 

 meeting at St. John, New Brunswick, 'December, 1852, indicate, prob- 

 ably, the temper of the commercial class of that city: 



" Rcsolied, That this meeting consider the coast fisheries of the North 

 American coloni(>s the natural right and property of the inhabitants 

 thereof, and that they should not be alienated, conceded, nor aliected 

 without their conscnit, in any negotiation with the United States gov- 

 ernment, or any other foreign power, without their consent, inasmuch as 

 the value of the fisheries to the Brillsh provinces, with an increased and 

 increasing population, cannot be estimated aright at the present time. 



■' Rcsulvrd, Tliat tills meeting view wltli deep anxiety and concern 

 the announcement in her iNIajesty's speech to the imperial Parhament, 

 that negotiations are now pending between her Majesty's government 

 and that of the United Staters, relative to the fisheries of the North 



