DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 679 



even more disadvantageously the permanent interests of the Domin- 

 ion in the fisheries adjacent to its coasts. 



The Minister submits that in his opinion, there can be no objection 

 on the part of the Canadian Government to the appointment of a 

 mixed Commission, whose duty it would be to consider and report on 

 the matters referred to in the first three articles of the memorandum 

 communicated to the Earl of Clarendon by Mr. Adams, in 1866. 



Should a Commission instructed to deal with these subjects be ap- 

 pointed at an early date, the Minister is not without hope that the 

 result of its investigations might be reported to the Governments 

 affected without much loss of time. Pending the determination of the 

 questions which it would discuss, it will, in the opinion of the Min- 

 ister, be indispensable that United States fishing vessels entering 

 Canadian bays and harbours should govern themselves not only ac- 

 cording to the terms of the Convention of 1818,' but by the regulations 

 to which they in common with other vessels are subject while within 

 such waters. 



The Minister has, however, no doubt that every effort will be made 

 to enforce those regulations in such a manner as to cause the smallest 

 amount of inconvenience to fishing vessels entering Canadian ports 

 under stress of weather or for any other legitimate purpose, and he 

 believes that any representation upon this subject will receive the at- 

 tentive consideration of your Excellency's Government. 



The Minister in conclusion would remind your Excellency that your 

 Government has always been willing to remove any obstacles to the 

 most friendly relations between the people of Canada and the United 

 States. 



Your Government has not only been disposed from the first to ar- 

 rive at such an arrangement as that indicated in the Report, with 

 regard to the Fisheries, but likewise to enter into such other arrange- 

 ments as might extend the commercial relations existing between the 

 two countries. 



The Committee concur in the foregoing and they submit the same 

 for your Excellency's approval. 



(Sd.) JOHN J. McGEE. 



Clerk, Privy Council. 



405 No. 234. 1887, February 5: Extract from Letter Mr. Daniel 

 Manning, United States Secretary of the Treasury, to Hon. 

 Perry Belmont, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign 

 Affairs. 



COMMERCIAL PRIVILEGES. 



The treaty of 1818 secured to our fishermen what, up to that time, 

 they did not have as a treaty right, which was admission to Canadian 

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

 damages therein, of purchasing wood, and of obtaining water, and 

 for no other purpose whatever" As colonists we had those rights, 

 but as colonists we lost them by just rebellion. They should not be 

 called commercial rights, for they were simply rights of humanity, 

 decency, good neighborhood, and international kindness to one 

 another. To refuse a fishing vessel such hospitality would be an 



