DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 383 



created largely benefited not only those directly engaged in commer- 

 cial pursuits, but was also of immense advantage to other classes of 

 the inhabitants of several of the adjacent counties of Nova Scotia. 

 The constant demand for, and ready disposal at remunerative prices 

 to the American fishing vessels, of a large quantity of farm produce, 

 and other products of industry in the shape of barrels, hoops, lumber, 

 wood, &c, was at once the character and result of the intercourse 

 which subsisted during the existence of the Reciprocity Treaty. The 

 total exemption from duty of all fish exported from the Maritime 

 Provinces to the markets of the United States was also a boon of 

 inestimable value to the very large class of British subjects directly 

 and indirectly connected with our fisheries and its resulting trade. 

 This state of things, which was beneficial also in no small degree to 

 the subjects of the United States, undoubtedly created a condition 

 of general prosperity and contentment among the classes of British 

 subjects referred to. such as had never previously existed. 



On the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty in 1866, by the Act 

 of the Government of the United States, both parties, viz. : the sub- 

 jects of Great Britain and those of the United States were remitted 

 to their respective former status under the terms and provisions of 

 the London Convention of October 20th, 1818, and the several 

 Colonial enactments based on, and in accordance therewith, supple- 

 mented by such exceptional rights in favour of foreign fishing vessels 

 as the licence system or policy has created and conferred. To that 

 status I beg now to advert. And first with regard to the rights of 

 American fishermen under the Convention of 1818, although no small 

 amount of official correspondence and even controversy between Great 

 Britain and the United States has taken place on this subject, par- 

 ticularly previous to the Treaty of Washington, 1854, commonly 

 known as the Reciprocity Treaty, the right of American fishermen 

 to participate in the fisheries on the Coasts of British North America 

 are very clearly defined by the latter part of the first Article of the 

 Convention of 1818; "And the United States hereby renounce for 

 ever 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 harbours of His Britannic 

 Majesty's Dominion in America, not included within the above men- 

 tioned limits." (The limits here referred to are specified in the same 

 Article, and have no application to the matter in hand) " provided 

 however that the American fishermen shall be admitted to enter such 

 bays or harbours for the purpose of shelter, and repairing damages 

 therein, of purchasir^ wood and of obtaining water, and for no other 

 purpose whatever. But they shall be under such restrictions as may 

 be necessary to prevent their taking, drying, or curing fish therein, 

 or, in any other manner whatever abusing the privileges hereby re- 

 served to them." 



Notwithstanding the just and indisputable construction of the 

 terms of this Article by Her Majesty's Government, to the effect that 

 the Government of the United States have thereby renounced the 

 right of fishing not only within three miles of the Colonial shores, 

 but also within three miles of a line drawn across the mouth of any 

 British bay or creek, and although Her Majesty's Government is 

 advised that American vessels engaged in fishing, might be lawfully 

 excluded from navigating the Strait of Canso, yet as I apprehend, 



