508 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



ment to the enactment of bounties, considered by the local Legisla- 

 tures essential for the protection of this trade. Her Majesty's Minis- 

 ters are desirous of removing all grounds of complaint on the part of 

 the colonies, in consequence of the encroachments of the fishing ves- 

 sels of the United States upon those waters, from which they are 

 excluded by the terms of the Convention of 1818, and they therefore 

 intend to despatch, as soon as possible, a small naval force of steam- 

 ers or other small vessels, to enforce the observance of that Conven- 

 tion. 



This announcement is accompanied by the following, as to 

 bounties : — 



With regard to the question of promoting the fisheries of the 

 British Colonies by the means of bounties, Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment, although desirous not to sanction any unnecessary deviation 

 from that policy, which regulates the commerce of this country, are 

 still disinclined to prevent those colonies, by the interposition of 

 imperial authority — and especially pending the negotiation with the 

 United States of America for the settlement of the principles on 

 which the commerce with the British North American Colonies is 

 hereafter to be carried on — from adopting the policy which they may 

 deem most conducive to their own prosperity and welfare. 



' The vessels of war mentioned in the above circular despatches, 

 are expected to be upon the coasts of British North America, during 

 the present month (July), when, no doubt, seizures will begin to be 

 made, of American fishing vessels, which in the autumn pursue their 

 business in indents of the coast, from which it is contended, they are 

 excluded by the Convention of 1818. 



"Meantime, and within the last ten days, an American fishing 

 vessel called the Coral, belonging to Machias, in Maine, has been 

 seized in the Bay of Fundy, near Grand Manan, by the officer com- 

 manding Her Majesty's cutter Netley, already arrived in that bay, 

 for an alleged infraction of the fishing convention; and the fishing 

 vessel has been carried to the port of St. John, New Brunswick, 

 where proceedings have been taken in the Admiralty Court, with a 

 view to her condemnation and absolute forfeiture. 



" Besides the small naval force to be sent out by the Imperial 

 Government, the colonies are bestirring themselves also for the pro- 

 tection of their fisheries. Canada has fitted out an armed vessel to 

 be stationed in the gulf ; and this vessel has proceeded to the fishing 

 grounds, having on board not only a naval commander and crew, 

 with power to seize vessels within limits, but also a stipendiary 

 magistrate and civil police, to make prisoners of all who are found 

 transgressing the laws of Canada, in order to their being committed 

 to jail, in that colony, for trial. 



" The colony of Newfoundland has fitted out an armed vessel for 

 the purpose of resisting the encroachments of French fishing vessels 

 on the coast of Labrador ; but when ready to sail from her port, the 

 governor of that colony, acting under imperial instructions, refused 

 to give the commander of this colonial vessel the necessary authority 

 for making prize of French vessels found trespassing. This is an 

 extraordinary circumstance, especially when taken in connection 

 with the fact that the like authority to seize American fishing vessels, 

 under similar circumstances, has never been refused to the cruisers 

 of any of the North American colonies. 



