[&anonG] BOUNDARIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK 361 
although it is true that ships use the channel between it and Campobello 
(for it is sufficiently deep and a short cut to the West Passage), this is 
by no means the geographical channel, for all charts of a large scale, 
including those of the United States Coast Survey, show that this chan- 
nel is only three fathoms in depth, while to the westward the channel 
is double that depth. As a whole, therefore, there can seem to be little 
doubt that the ultimate decision will assign this island to Great Britain. 
Another point of difference between the commissioners arose as 
to the ownership of Cochrans Ledge opposite Eastport. Another 
question arose in the channel of the West Passage. The present chan- 
nel is a dredged channel, and it was agreed that the new line should 
tollow it, although the original natural channel, which the line might 
naturally be expected to follow, was for the most part farther to the 
eastward. This change would throw certain fishing grounds claimed 
by the United States fishermen into Canada, but the American com- 
missioner appears to have been willing nevertheless to follow the new 
channel on the ground that it gave a better division of water areas. 
The fishermen appealed to the Department of State at Washington, 
with the result that the question was held in suspension. The com- 
missioners made various proposals to one another for a compromise, 
but could not come to an agreement, and accordingly in April, 1895, 
they decided to make separate reports to their governments. This 
was done, but the reports have never been published, and the question 
remains in this state to the present day. 
The completion of the work of this commission will close the 
International boundary in this region. There is still one part, how- 
ever, where it is not marked, and that is through the Chiputneticook 
lakes, a point to which attention is called in the Report of the United 
States survey of 1889. Although there are many places through 
these lakes where the exact course of the line may be in doubt, par- 
ticularly among the numerous small islands occurring there, it is un- 
likely that any trouble will soon arise, for the region is well nigh 
uninhabited and the interests involved of no appreciable value. Never- 
theless, it would be well to mark'the entire line in advance of possible 
troubles rather than after they have occurred. The islands in the 
river also have not been formally assigned to the respective nations, 
but here also it seems unlikely that any serious difficulties can arise. 
It is of course understood that these islands will belong to the nation 
on whose side of the channel they fall, and it is on'this principle that 
St. Croix or Dochet Island:belongs to the United States. 
Such is the history of the International boundaries of New Bruns- 
wick down to the present day. Should any other such dispute arise 
may it be discussed and settled in a spirit of calmness and justice. 
Secale 1901225; 
