PERIOD FROM 1854 TO 1871. 565 



With regard to the navigation of the St. Lawrence and the canals, 

 it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to interfere for 

 the present with the privileges which the citizens of The United 

 States have enjoyed during the time the Treaty has been in operation. 

 As regards the privileges of fishing and of landing upon the shores 

 and coasts of Her Majesty's possessions for the purpose of drying 

 their nets and curing their fish, which have been enjoyed by citizens 

 of The United States under the Treaty, Her Majesty's Government 

 are very desirous to prevent the injury and loss which may be inflicted 

 upon the citizens of The United States by the sudden withdrawal of 

 their privileges. They are, however, (now that the Treaty has come 

 to an end), bound by the Act 59, George III., cap 38, as well as by the 

 Acts of the Legislatures of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, which 

 have obtained the Imperial sanction. By those Acts, which were only 

 suspended during the existence of the Treaty, severe penalties, extend- 

 ing to confiscation of their vessels, with the cargoes, tackle, stores, &c, 

 are inflicted upon all persons, not British subjects, who shall be found 

 fishing or to have been fishing or preparing to fish within the distance 

 of 3 miles of the coast of Her Majesty's possessions in North America. 



It becomes the duty of Her Majesty's Government and of the Gov- 

 ernments of the respective provinces to enforce the law, and until 

 those Acts are modified or repealed, citizens of The United States will 

 be prohibited from fishing in British waters, from landing on British 

 territory for the purpose of drying their nets and curing their fish, 

 and will be subject to all the penalties which the violation of the law 

 entails. 



Under these circumstances, it has been the duty of Lord Monck to 

 issue a Proclamation informing all persons who may be concerned of 

 the state of the law, and warning them of the penalties that they 

 incur by its violation. 



Her Majesty's Government are not insensible to the great incon- 

 venience and losses to which the exclusion of American citizens from 

 privileges so long enjoyed by them, and in which capital to a consid- 

 erable amount has been invested, and labour to a large extent has been 

 employed, must unavoidably subject a great number of persons. 



They fear that so long an enjoyment of those privileges may induce 

 those who have been engaged in ashing ventures on (he coasts of the 

 British possessions in defy (he law and carry on their operations, thus 

 exposing their property !<> seizure and confiscation. A feeling of irri- 

 tation may thus be engendered in tin- Northeastern States of America 

 against the British Government and nut ion which FTer Majesl y's Gov- 

 ernment would deeply regret, and which might lend to serious misun- 

 derstandings between the two Governments. 



Her Majesty's Government have the satis Paction of feeling that they 

 have done their utmo i to prevent these con equences. They have de- 

 clared their readine . and thej are till prepared, to come to any 

 arrangement with The United State . either by a continuation or a 

 renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty, or by entering into new engage- 

 ments by which the privileges hitherto enjoyed by American citizens 

 might be till ecured to them. The Government of Washington has 

 declined to accede to the e propo als. 



Proclaiiiat Ion, see anU . p. 156. 



