yo The Fishery Quesfi 



o?i. 



annic Majesty can find little satisfaction in the 

 recent developments, except that the ques- 

 tions raised are still within the limits of ra- 

 tional and legal discussion. To this result the 

 attitude of the government at Washington 

 has certainly contributed. 



Several American fishing vessels were 

 seized by " cruisers " during the season of 

 1886. A few were fined. One is still in cus- 

 tody and one has been condemned and sold 

 under circumstances that probably entitle her 

 owners to damages. In more than one hun- 

 dred instances there have been complaints of 

 interference by Canadian officials. Corre- 

 spondence between the United States and the 

 Imperial Government has been constant. '°^ 

 Throughout it occurs, like a refrain, the dip- 

 lomatic formula of the English minister, 

 resident at Washington, having the honor to 

 acknowledge the notes from the Department 

 of State and referrinof their contents to the 

 Foreign Office. The Imperial Government, 

 while obviously anxious to avoid difficulty 

 with the United States, has practically 

 adopted the Canadian defence of Canadian 

 action, and cites, in justification, not only the 

 Convention of 18 18, the Act 59, George III., 



