THE FISHERY CONVENTIONS 627 



the same limits as are contained in the Anglo-French con- 

 vention of 1839 to be put in force against American fisher- 

 men; but, on representations from London, these were with- 

 drawn and other instructions issued to the commanders of 

 the cruisers, in which bays of six miles or less in width at 

 the mouth were alone reserved. 1 



Further negotiations between the Governments ended in the 

 treaty of Washington in 1871, in which reciprocal rights of 

 fishing were re-established in much the same way as in the 

 treaty of 1854, but the liberty to British subjects to fish on 

 the coast of the United States was restricted to the part 

 north of the 39th degree of north latitude. 2 Under this 

 treaty it was agreed to appoint joint commissioners to 

 determine the amount of compensation, if any, which should 

 be paid by the United States for the greater privileges granted 

 to American citizens by the treaty ; and this commission 

 met at Halifax in 1877, the sum of 5,500,000 dollars being 

 so awarded. The award was not received with favour in 

 the United States, and notice was given at the end of the 

 stipulated ten years for the abrogation of the treaty, and 

 the articles referring to the fisheries were so terminated on 

 July 1, 1885, the provisions of the convention of 1818 again, 

 for the third time, coming into force. Further troubles and 

 disputes occurred, not so much in relation to fishing within 

 territorial waters, as to American vessels frequenting colonial 

 ports for the purchase of bait, salt, &c., a liberty which was 



1 27th June 1870. "The limits within which you will, if necessary, exercise the 

 power to exclude United States' fishermen, or to detain American fishing vessels or 

 boats, are for the present to be exceptional. . . . Her Majesty's Government are 

 clearly of opinion that, by the Convention of 1 818, the United States have renounced 

 the right of fishing, not only within three miles of the Colonial shores, but within 

 three miles of a line drawn across the mouth of any British bay or creek. It is, 

 however, the wish of Her Majesty's Government neither to concede, nor for the 

 present to enforce, any rights in this respect which are in their nature open to any 

 serious question. Until further instructed, therefore, you will not interfere with 

 any American fishermen, unless found within three miles of the shore, or within 

 three miles of a line drawn across the mouth of a bay or creek, which, though in 

 parts more than six miles wide, is less than six geographical miles in width at its 

 mouth. In the case of any other bay as Bay des Chaleurs, for example you will 

 not interfere with any United States' fishing vessel or boat, or any American fisher- 

 men, unless they are found within three miles of the shore." 



2 Treaty between Her Majesty and the United States of America, signed at 

 Washington, 8th May 1871, Art. xviii., xix. 



