582 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



Special instructions fo Fishery Officers, ex-officio^ Magistrates^ in 

 command ■ •< rnmeni vessels engaged as Marine Police in pro- 

 tecting the Inshore Fisheries of Canada. 



Department of Marine and Fisheries, 



Ottawa, May 1^ 1870. 



Sir : The service to which you are appointed is a special and pecul- 

 iar one; and the exercise on your part of the greatest possible dis- 

 cretion and judgment is required. 



The following directions, for your information and guidance, are 

 of a confidential nature. 



The duties you will perform, and the powers you shall exercise are 

 defined by the present instructions. 



Duties. — It will be your duty to cruise at all times, with the vessel 

 under your command on the various " Stations " to which, from 

 time to time, you may be assigned ; and to prevent foreign fishermen 

 and fishing vessels from intruding on the inshore fisheries and fish- 

 ing grounds of Canada, either to take or cure fish, or to procure bait 

 for fishing. 



Probably, American fishing vessels and fishermen chiefly will be 

 concerned; therefore it is requisite for you to be more especially 

 informed of the relation of United States citizens to fishery priv- 

 ileges in British waters, as well those of a common and concurrent 

 nature as those of an exclusively Canadian character. Also, to be 

 instructed to what extent, and for what (other than fishing) pur- 

 poses American fishing vessels and fishermen are permitted free 

 access to the bays and harbors of the Dominion. 



The terms of the First Article of the Convention of the 20th Octo- 

 ber, 1818, between Great Britain and the United States, has, since 

 the expiration of the Reciprocity Treaty governed the participation 

 of American fishermen in the Gulf and Labrador fisheries. A copy 

 of the said article is appended. 



1. United States fishermen may exercise the liberty of fishing in 

 common with British subjects along that part of the coast of Canada 

 extending from Mount Joly, near the River Grande Natashquhan, to 

 the easterly limit of Canada, at Blanc Sablon Bay, and around the 

 Magdalen Islands; and enjoy freedom also to land and cure fish on 

 certain of the unsettled shores of the Labrador coast. Wherever any 

 settlement exists within these limits, the privilege of landing and 

 curing fish may be enjoyed by previous agreement with the settlers, 

 or with proprietors of the ground. 



2. In all other parts foreigners are precluded from fishing within 

 three marine miles of Canadian shores. American vessels may, how- 

 ever, enter into all bays and harbors for certain specified purposes. ^ 



These purposes are — for shelter, repairing damages, purchasing 

 wood, and obtaining water. They are to be admitted for no other 

 purpose whatever. And during such admission they may be subjected 

 to any restrictions necessary to prevent them from taking, drying, or 

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

 thus accorded to them. You will be careful to observe that such 

 qualified admission to the ports and harbors of Canada be not made 

 a pretext or cloak for transferring cargoes, or transacting any other 

 business connected with their fishing operations. 



