34 TREATY PROVISIONS RELATING TO FISHERIES 



and recommend (he appointment of a joint commission by the Govern- 

 ments of the United States and Great Britain to consider the matter, 

 in the interest of maintaining good neighborhood and friendly inter- 

 course between the two countries, thus affording a prospect of nego- 

 tiation for the development and extension of trade between the United 

 States and British North America. 



Copies of the memoranda and exchanged notes on which this tem- 

 porary agreement rests are appended. 



Keference is also made to the President's proclamation of January 

 31, 1885, terminating the fishing articles of the treaty of Washington. 



By direction of the President: 



T. F. Bayard, 



Secretary of State. 



Memorandum of Mr. West. 



The fishery clauses of the treaty of Washington of 1871 will expire 

 on the 1st of July next. It has been represented by the Canadian Gov- 

 ernment that much inconvenience is likely to arise in consequence, 

 unless some agreement can be made for an extension of the period. 



When the time comes (1st of July next) American ships will be 

 actually engaged in fishing within the territorial waters of the Domin- 

 ion. These vessels will have been fitted out for the season's fishing 

 and have made all their usual arrangements for following it up until 

 its termination in the autumn. If, under these circumstances, the 

 provincial or municipal authorities in Canada were to insist upon 

 their strict rights, and to compel such vessels, on pain of seizure, to 

 desist from fishing, considerable hardship would be occasioned to the 

 owners, and a feeling of bitterness engendered on both sides which it 

 is clearly the interest of both Governments to avert. 



It seems therefore desirable, in order to avoid such possible compli- 

 cations, that both Governments should come to an agreement under 

 which the clauses might be in effect extended until the 1st of January, 

 188G. 



If this were done the existing state of things would come to an end 

 at a date between the fishery season of 1885 and that of 1886, and an 

 abrupt transition at a moment when fishery operations were bing car- 

 ried on would be thus avoided. 



Washington, March 12, 1885. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. West. 



Department of State, 



Washington, April 22, 1885. 

 Dear Mr. West: I have on several occasions lately, in conversa- 

 tion, acquainted you with my interest in the fisheries memorandum 

 which accompanied your personal letter of March 12. 



Several informal talks I have had with Sir Ambrose Shea have en- 

 abled me to formulate the views of this Government upon the proposi- 

 tion made in behalf of the Dominion and the Province of Newfound- 

 land, and I take pleasure in handing you herewith a memorandum 

 embodying the results. If this suits. I shall be happy to confirm the 

 arrangement by an exchange of notes at your early convenience. 

 I am, &c, 



T. F. Bayard. 



