DESPATCHES, EEPOETS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 737 



under the treaty of 1818, and to destroy the mutuality of the Act of 

 1830 and the benefits of article 29 of the treaty of 1871. 



Our Government remonstrated, at first mildly, and later on with 

 something of the vigour that should belong to those entrusted with 

 the defence of clear American rights. But these remonstrances, un- 

 accompanied or followed by any further steps, were unavailing. 



The President, in his annual message of December, 1885, in view 

 of these circumstances, recommended to Congress the making pro- 

 vision for a commission to adjust and settle the difficulties and dis- 

 putes thus arisen, but Congress did not see fit to do it, and the Senate, 

 on the 13th of April, 1886, adopted a resolution by a majority of 25 

 declaring that, in its judgment, no such commission ought to be 

 established ; and by a resolution of the 24th of July, 1886, proceeded 

 to order an investigation by its committee on foreign relations into 

 the fishery question and into the unjust treatment of our fishermen 

 and the circumstances connected therewith, with a view, as it may be 

 presumed, to taking such measures on the report of its committee as 

 the interests and honour of the United States should require. 



That committee made an exhaustive investigation, and without any 

 dissent from any of its members reported to the Senate, on the 19th 

 of January, 1887, upon the subject, stating the history of these dif- 

 ficulties and the clear rights that it was thought belonged to the 

 United States and to their citizens, and recommended the enactment 

 of a law for the protection of American rights. 



Such a law was enacted, the Bill passing the Senate by a vote of 

 46 in the affirmative to 1 in the negative, and passing the House of 

 Representatives with an enlarging amendment by a vote of 256 in 

 the affirmative to 1 in the negative. 



On the passage of this law the only difference between the two 

 Houses was that concerning the extent to which these defensive 

 measures should go. This Act of Congress was approved by the 

 President on the 3d of March, 1887, and is in the following words : 



AN ACT To authorize the President of the United States to Protect and x efend the 

 Rights of American Fishing vessels, American j. ishermen, American Trading and other 

 Vessels, in certain cases, and for other purposes. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 

 of America in Congress assembled, That whenever the President of the United 

 States shall be satisfied that American fishing vessels or American fishermen, 

 visiting or being in the waters or at any ports or places of the British domin- 

 ions of North America, are or then lately have been denied or abridged in the 

 enjoyment of any rights secured to them by treaty or law, or are then or lately 

 have [been] unjustly vexed or harassed in the enjoyment of such rights, or 

 subjected to unreasonable restrictions, regulations, or requirements in respect 

 of such rights; or otherwise unjustly vexed or harassed in said waters, ports 

 or places ; or whenever the President of the United States shall be satisfied 

 that any such fishing vessels or fishermen, having a permit under the laws of 

 the United States to touch and trade at any port or ports, place or places, in 

 the British dominions of North America, are or then lately have been denied 

 the privilege of entering such port or ports, place or places, in the same manner 

 and under the same regulations as may exist therein applicable to trading 

 vessels of the most favoured nation, or shall be unjustly vexed or harassed in 

 respect thereof, or otherwise be unjustly vexed or harassed therein, or shall be 

 prevented from purchasing such supplies as may there be lawfully sold to trad- 

 ing vessels of the most favoured nation ; or whenever the President of the 

 United States shall be satisfied that any other vessels of the United States, 

 their masters or crews, so arriving at or being in such British waters or ports 

 or places of the British dominions of North America, are or then lately have 

 been denied any of the privileges therein accorded to the vessels, their masters 



92909 S. Doc. 870, 61^3, vol 4 57 



