DESPATCHES, REPOKTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 351 



the Collector of Customs of the United States respecting the ob- 

 servance by American fishermen of such local regulations as have 

 been established by the Colonial Authorities for the protection of the 

 fisheries, and I have to state to you that Her Majesty's Government 

 entirely concur in the view which you have taken of Mr. Marcy's 

 Circular. 



By the Reciprocity Treaty between this country and the United 

 States American citizens are. admitted to the benefit of certain fish- 

 eries carried on in British waters in common with Her Majesty's sub- 

 jects. It follows as a necessary consequence that such American 

 citizens are bound to observe the existing laws and regulations estab- 

 lished for the conduct of such fisheries by which British subjects are 

 bound. 



This is necessarily implied in the very words of the Article of the 

 Treaty, but independently of all agreement, it would follow, on gen- 

 eral principles, that American fishermen pursuing their occupation 

 within British territory would be bound to observe the local laws and 

 regulations in like manner as all foreigners are bound to observe the 

 municipal laws of the country in which they are resident. 



It is indeed literally true, as Mr. Marcy states, that there is no 

 express stipulation in the Reciprocity Treaty which binds American 

 citizens to observe the British Colonial Regulations, but the obliga- 

 tion to do so did not require a stipulation; it attaches upon American 

 citizens as soon as they claim the benefit of the Treaty. 



Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that the expressions 

 adopted by Mr. Marcy are much to be regretted as they are calcu- 

 lated to mislead and to be a fruitful source of disputes and opposi- 

 tion to British authority, and you will therefore take an early 

 209 opportunity of urging upon Mr. Marcy the expediency of 

 some explanation being given by the United States, to prevent 

 that misapprehension, to which the language of the Circular is un- 

 doubtedly likely to give rise. 



I am, with great truth and regard, Sir, 



Your most obedient humble servant, CLARENDON 



JOHN F. CRAMPTON Esqr 



&c &c &c 



No. 129. 1856, March 88: Letter from Mr. Marcy to Mr. Crampton. 



Private. 



WASHINGTON, March 28. /56 



SIR : I enclose a Circular to be issued to our fishermen modified, as 

 I think, so as to conform to your suggestions on that subject. I 

 submit it to you with a request to return it with such remarks thereon 

 as you may see fit to make. 



Yours, W. L. MARCY 



JOHN F. CRAMPTON, Esqre., 



&c., &c.j &c. 



