PERIOD FROM 1836 TO 1854. 437 



coast of Newfoundland which extends from Cape Ray to the Rameau 

 islands; on the western and northern coast of Newfoundland, which 

 extends from the said Cape Ray to the Quirpon islands; on the shores 

 of the Magdalen islands; and also on the coasts, bays, harbors, and 

 creeks, from Mount Joly, on the southern coast of Labrador, to and 

 through the straits of Belleisle; and thence northwardly, indefinitely, 

 along the coast, without prejudice, however, to any of the exclusive 

 rights of the Hudson Bay Company. And that the American fish- 

 ermen shall also have liberty forever, to dry and cure fish in any 

 part of the unsettled bays, harbors and creeks of the southern part 

 of the coast of Newfoundland, here above described, and of the coast 

 of Labrador; but so soon as the same, or any portion thereof, shall 

 be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure 

 fish at such portion so settled, without previous agreement for such 

 purpose with the inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors of the 

 ground. And the United States hereby renounce forever, any liberty 

 heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof to take, 

 dry, or cure fish on or within three marine miles of any of the coasts, 

 bays, creeks, or harbors of his Britannic Majesty's dominions in 

 America, not included within the above mentioned limits: Provided, 

 however, That the American fishermen shall be admitted to enter 

 such bays or harbors for the purpose of shelter, and of repairing 

 damages therein, of purchasing wood, and of obtaining water, and 

 for no other purpose whatever; but they shall be under such restric- 

 tions as may be necessary to prevent their taking, drying, or curing 

 fish therein, or in any other manner whatever abusing the privileges 

 hereby reserved to them." 

 Under this article — 



1. American vessels are allowed, forever, to take, dry, and cure 

 fish on and along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, within 

 certain limits therein defined. 



2. The United States renounce, forever, any liberty before enjoyed 

 by their citizens to take fish within three marine miles of any coasts, 

 bays, creeks, or harbors of the British dominions in America, not 

 included within the above limits, i. e. Newfoundland and Labrador. 



3. American vessels retain the privilege (under necessary restric- 

 tions to prevent their taking fish) of entering the bays, creeks, and 

 harbours of said pi ions, for the purposes of shelter, repairing 

 damages, purchasing wood and obtaining water, and for no other 

 purpose whatever. 



It does not appear that the stipulations in the article above quoted 

 have, since the date of the convention, been the subject of conflicting 

 questions of right between the two governments. The rights of the 

 i' jpective partie are o clearly defined by the letter of the treaty. 

 b lively to leave room for such questions of an abstract or general 

 character. In their actual operation, however, inasmuch as their 

 application on the pari of Great Britain was to be subjected to local 

 Legislation, and eon unit ted to the hands of subordinate British agents, 

 the provisions of the treaty might naturally be expected to give rise 

 to difficulties growing out of individual acts on either side. The 

 recent seizures appear to have had their origin in such causes, like 



other causes of anterior d;ite ; to which a brief allusion may here be 

 usefiiL 



