326 APPENDIX TO BRITISH CASE. 



And Admiral Sir George Seymour has referred to the instructions 

 given to successive Naval Commanders in chief that although no right 

 on the part of the United States fishermen to fish from the shores of 

 the Magdalen Islands, or to dry and cure their fish there, could be 

 acknowledged, yet they should not be practically interfered with at 

 those islands. 



Sir G Seymour has also stated that the fishing vessels of the United 

 States resort in large numbers to the various harbours in Cape 

 Breton, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, where they pass 

 the Sundays without entering those harbours from stress of weather, 

 or to repair damages or for obtaining wood and purchasing water, 

 as provided for in the Convention, and he has inquired what course 

 should be taken as to these vessels. 



With reference to these several subjects, I have it in command to 

 instruct your Lordships to inform the Admiral Commanding in chief 

 on the North American station, that Her Majesty's Government in 

 ordering that the British fisheries should be protected, are not making 

 new claims against the United States, nor altering, or reversing any 

 standing orders to Her Majesty's Governors and public functionaries, 

 nor revoking any such concession as that which was granted in 1845 

 as regards the Bay of Fundy, or that which has long been practically 

 made in the Magdalen Islands, it being clearly understood that no 

 right of American citizens to land their crews upon those islands is 

 acknowledged by this permission and sufference on the part of the 



British authorities. 



193 I have further to apprize your Lordships that unwilling to 



withdraw any accommodation which fishermen of the United 

 States now find in British harbours, although such accommodation 

 may go beyond the terms of the Treaty, Her Majesty's Government do 

 not for the present desire any interference with the resort which it 

 appears that they have formed the habit of making to various ports 

 in the British provinces at times when they are not engaged in fishing, 

 so long as they may conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceable 

 manner 



What course may be taken hereafter on these several concessions it 

 is unnecessary now to determine. The various questions at issue be- 

 tween the Governments of this country and the United States will 

 be the subject of future discussion between them; but in the mean- 

 time Her Majesty's Government have no wish to withdraw the fore- 

 going privileges from the fishermen of the United States in any 

 manner which could be considered abrupt. 



I have therefore to request that your Lordships will desire the 

 Admiral to execute the instructions which you before conveyed to 

 him with due regard to the above concessions and with as much mod- 

 eration and forbearance as may be consistent with the firm mainte- 

 nance of those rights on the part of the British North American 

 Provinces, the encroachments upon whici. have been the subject of 

 their recent and repeated complaints. 

 I have &c 



(Signed) J S PAKINGTON. 



