DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 199 



plaining of the habitual encroachments of American citizens on 

 British fishery ground in violation of existing Treaties between 

 Great Britain and the United States, and praying that Her Majesty 

 would be pleased to adopt measures for the protection of the com- 

 merce and fisheries of Her Majesty's subjects in that Colony; Her 

 Majesty's Government have deemed it expedient to direct that some 

 small vessels of war should be stationed on the coast of Nova Scotia 

 for this purpose. 



I have consequently to instruct you to give notice of this pre- 

 cautionary measure to the Government of the United States; and 

 at the same time to invite that Government to take such steps on its 

 part, as may be necessary to warn American citizens of the illegality 

 of their proceedings in transgressing the bounds defined by Treaty. 



The chief matter of complaint is, that American citizens in viola- 

 tion of the Convention of 1818, enter the gulfs, bays, harbours, 

 creeks, narrow seas, and waters of the Colonies, and that they land 

 on the shores of Prince Edward and the Magdalen Islands, and by 

 force, aided by superior numbers, drive British fishermen from banks 

 and fishing grounds solely and exclusively British. 



I inclose for your information and guidance, in your communica- 

 tions with the American Government upon this subject, copies of a 

 despatch from Sir Colin Campbell to Lord Glenelg, inclosing the 

 Address of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly of Nova 

 Scotia ; and also copies of two Reports from Her Majesty's Advocate 

 General and of a letter from the Board of Trade, founded upon 

 representations received from Nova Scotia last year, to the same 

 effect as those now immediately under consideration. 



If you should find the Government of the United States disposed 

 to aid and cooperate with Her Majesty's Government in enforcing 

 the observance of Treaties on the part of American citizens on the 

 coasts in question, by affording greater facilities for the detection 

 and punishment of offenders, or by the adoption of any mutual 

 measures which might be suggested for the better attainment of the 

 object in view, you will avail yourself of such disposition, to en- 

 deavour to come to some agreement upon this subject. You will 

 observe that the points which Her Majesty's Government have to 

 enforce are: 



1st. That the three marine miles within which the citizens of the 

 United States are by the Convention prohibited from fishing, must 

 be calculated from the headlands of Nova Scotia, and not as the 

 Americans contend, from a line curving and corresponding with the 

 coast ; 



2nd. That the fishermen of the United States are to be restrained 

 from setting their nets within the bays or harbours of Nova Scotia 

 and Newfoundland ; 



3rd. That they are to be restricted from the use of jigs upon the 

 coasts oi Nova Scotia and Newfoundland; 



4th. That they are to be restrained from coming within the bays 

 or harbours of Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands 

 not excepted. for any other purposes than to obtain shelter, or to 

 repair damage, or to purchase wood, or to procure water, agreeably 

 to the provision of the Article of the convention. 



