PERIOD FROM 1854 TO 1871. 571 



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 certain limits 

 heretofore mentioned;" and whereas differences have arisen in re- 

 gard to the extent of the above mentioned renunciation, the govern- 

 ment of the United States and her Majesty the Queen of Great 

 Britain, being equally desirous of avoiding further misunderstand- 

 ing, have agreed to appoint, and do hereby authorize the appoint- 

 ment of a mixed commission for the following purposes, namely : 



1. To agree upon and define by a series of lines the limits which 

 shall separate the exclusive from the common right of fishing on 

 the coasts and in the seas adjacent of the British North American 

 colonies, in conformity with the 1st article of the convention of 1818 ; 

 the said lines to be regularly numbered, duly described, and also 

 clearly marked on charts prepared in duplicate for the purpose. 



2. To agree upon and establish such regulations as may be neces- 

 sary and proper to secure to the fishermen of the United' States the 

 privilege of entering bays and harbors for the purpose of shelter and 

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

 water, and to agree upon and establish such restrictions as may be 

 necessary to prevent the abuse of the privilege reserved by said con- 

 vention to the fishermen of the United States. 



3. To agree upon and recommend the penalties to be adjudged, and 

 such proceedings and jurisdiction as may be necessary to secure a 

 speedy trial and judgment with as little expense as possible, for the 

 violators of rights and the transgressors of the limits and restrictions 

 which may be hereby adopted: 



Provided, however, that the limits, restrictions and regulations 

 which may be agreed upon by the said commission shall not be final, 

 nor have any effect, until so jointly confirmed and declared by the 

 United States and her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, either 

 by treaty or by laws, mutually acknowledged and accepted by the 

 President of the United States, by and with the consent of the Senate 

 and by her Majesty the Queen or Great Britain. 



Pending a definitive arrangement on the subject, the United States 

 government engages to give all proper orders to officers in its employ- 

 ment, and her Britannic Majesty's government engages t<> instruct 

 the proper colonial or other British officers to abstain from hostile 

 acts against British and United State- fishermen respectively, 



Mr. St ward to Mr. Adams. 



No. 17.'58.] Department of State, 



Washington, April 17, 1866. 

 Sn:: Referring t<» instruction* No. 1 7 - '. 7 . of the l"tli of this month, 

 relative to the fishery question, growing out of die termination of the 

 reciprocity treaty. I now transmit for your information a copy of a 

 report made l>\ iln department to the President, in answer to a 

 resolution of the House of Representatives^ of the loth instant, 



reque I in*- r in format ion on t lie subject. 



I am. air, your obedient servant, 



William IT. Seward. 

 Charles Fimnms Adams, Esq., &c, Ac., Ac 



