PERIOD FROM 1836 TO 1854. 507 



inces in regard to these encroachments, whereby the colonial fisheries 

 are most seriously prejudiced, directions have been given by the lords 

 of her Majesty's admiralty for stationing off New Brunswick, Nova 

 Scotia, Prince Edward's Island, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 such a force of small sailing vessels and steamers as shall be deemed 

 sufficient to prevent the infraction of the treaty. It is the command 

 of the Queen that the officers employed upon this service should be 

 especially enjoined to avoid all interference with the vessels of 

 friendly powers, except where they are in the act of violating the 

 treaty, and on all occasions to avoid giving ground of complaint by 

 the adoption of harsh or unnecessary proceedings when circumstances 

 compel their arrest or seizure. 



I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, sir, the assur- 

 ance of my high consideration. 



John F. Crampton. 



Honorable Daniel Webster, <£<?., (&c, &c. 



Public Letter of Mr. Webster on the American FisJieries. a 



t 



Department of State, 

 Washington, July 6, 1852. 



Information of an official character has been received at this 

 Department to the following effect: 



" The late Ministry of England was opposed to the granting of 

 bounties, on principle; and in consequence, it steadily refused to give 

 the necessary assent to acts of the Colonial Legislatures, granting 

 bounties to the fisheries. The colonies complained severally, of this 

 interference with their local affairs; and they further complained, 

 that the Government declined to enforce the provisions of the Fishery 

 Convention of 1818, and thereby permitted American fishermen to 

 encroach upon the best fishing grounds, from which, under the legal 

 construction of the treaty, they ought to be excluded. 



" With the recent change of Ministry in England, has occurred an 

 entire change of policy. The present Secretary of State for the Col- 

 onies, Sir John Packington, has addressed a circular letter to the 

 Governors of (he several North American Colonies, an extract from 

 which is as follows: 



Downing Street, May 26, 1852. 



Among the tunny pressing subjects which have, engaged the atten- 

 tion of II<r Maje i\'-. Ministers, since their assumption of office, few 

 have been more important, in their estimation, than (he questions 

 relating to the protection solicited for the fisheries on the coasts of 

 British North America. 



Her Maje rty'a Government have taken into their serious consider- 

 ation the representations upon this subject, contained in your des- 

 patches, noted in the margin, and have not failed to observe, that 

 whilst active measures have been taken by certain colonies for tho 

 purpo-.- of enc()iir:i^ing their fisheries, and of repelling the intrusion 

 of foreign v it Eaa been :i aubjed of complain! that impedi- 



ments should have been offered by the policy of the Imperial Govern- 



• Published in the P.oston Courier, July 19, 1862. 



