DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 397 



The Canadian Law of the 22nd of May, 1868, 31 Victoria. Cup. 

 61, entitled "An Act respecting Fishing by Foreign Vessels." among 

 other things, enacts that any commissioned officer of Her Majesty's 

 Navy, serving on board of any vessel of Her Majesty's Navy, cruising 

 and being in the waters of Canada for purpose of affording protec- 

 tion to Her Majesty's subjects engaged in the fisheries; or any com- 

 missioned officer of Her Majesty's Navy, fishery officer, or stipendiary 

 magistrate on board of any vessel belonging to or in the service of 

 the Government of Canada, and employed in the service of protect- 

 ing the fisheries, or any officer of the customs of Canada, sheriff, 

 magistrate, or other person duly commissioned for that purpose, may 

 go on board of any ship, vessel, or boat within any harbour in Canada, 

 or hovering (in British waters) within three marine miles of any 

 of the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbours in Canada, and stay on board 

 as long as she may remain within such place or distance. It also 

 provides, that if such ship, vessel, or boat be bound elsewhere, and 

 shall continue within such harbour or so hovering for twenty-four 

 hours after the master shall have been required to depart, any one 

 of such officers or persons as are above mentioned may bring such 

 ship, vessel, or boat into port and search her cargo, and may also 

 examine the master upon oath, touching the cargo and voyage, and 

 if the master or person in command shall not truly answer the ques- 

 tions put to him in such examination, he shall forfeit four hundred 

 dollars ; and if such ship, vessel, or boat be foreign, or not navigated 

 according to the laws of the United Kingdom or of Canada, and 

 have been found fishing, or preparing to fish, or to have been fishing 

 (in British waters) within three marine miles of any of the coasts, 

 bays, creeks, or harbours of Canada, not included within the above 

 mentioned limits, without a license, or after the expiration of the 

 period named in the last license granted to such ship, vessel, or boat, 

 under the first section of this Act, such ship, vessel, or boat, and the 

 tackle, rigging, apparel, furniture, stores, and cargo thereof shall 

 be forfeited. And that all goods, ships, vessels, and boats, and the 

 tackle, rigging, apparel, furniture, stores, and cargo liable to for- 

 feiture under this Act, may be seized and secured by any officers or 

 persons mentioned in the second section of this Act ; and every person 

 opposing any officer or person in the execution of his duty under 

 this Act, or aiding or abetting any other person in any opposition, 

 shall forfeit eight hundred dollars, and shall be guilty of a misde- 

 meanor, and upon conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term 

 not exceeding two years. On the 8th of January, 1870, the Gov- 

 ernor-General of the Dominion of Canada, in Council, ordered that 

 suitable sailing vessels, similar to La Canadienne, be chartered and 

 equipped for the service of protecting the Canadian in-shore fisheries 

 against illegal encroachments by foreigners, these vessels to be con- 

 nected with the police force of Canada, and to form a marine branch 

 of the same. It is understood that by a change of the boundaries 

 between Canada and Labrador, the Canadian territory now includes 

 Mount Joly and a portion of the shore to the east thereof, which in 

 the Treaty of 1818. was described as the southern coast of Labrador. 



This municipal change of boundary does not, however, interfere 

 with the rights of American fishermen, as defined by the Treaty, on 

 that portion of what was the southern coast of Labrador, east of 

 Mount Joly. 



Very respectfully, GEO. S. BOUTWELL, Secretary. 



