PEBTAINING TO SITUATION IN 1852-1853. 177 



the same view of the provisions of the treaty as that taken by her 

 Majesty's government; to express his regret that a different view 

 should have been taken by the Queen's government, and of his hope 

 that force might not be resorted to against our fishermen in the bays 

 and harbors, provided- they avoided approaching within three marine 

 miles of the shore, and particularly as it is known to her Majesty's 

 government that the subject of the fisheries is at this moment a mat- 

 ter of negotiation between the United States and Great Britain. 



Admiral Seymour expressed his entire concurrence with the govern- 

 ment of the United States in its desire to avoid any cause of offence. 



He stated that he did not feel at liberty to deviate from the inter- 

 pretation placed by her Majesty's government on the first article of 

 the convention of 1818 ; that his instructions to the cruisers under his 

 command are, " to carry out the views of the government in the mild- 

 est manner, and not to make any seizure except in case of undoubted 

 infraction of the treaty stipulations." 



The Admiral stated that no seizure had been made this seasonj and 

 that, with the instructions which he has given to her Majesty's cruisers, 

 as above stated, and those which he understands to have been given 

 to the cruisers of the United States, to report cases of supposed in- 

 fraction to the commander of the squadron, or to the department, he 

 hopes that no collision will take place, and believes that none can, 

 except from the imprudence of individuals arising from an attempt 

 to take the law in their own hands, or, in other words, arming in self- 

 defense. 



I enclose a copy of a report made by Lieut. Cammanding Watson 

 of his visit to Lubec. 



The Cunard steamers stopping here only once a fortnight, and a 

 letter by mail taking eight days to reach Washington, I have thought 

 it advisable to send the Fulton with this despatch to Portsmouth, as, 

 with her speed, she may be expected to make the passage in thirty 

 hours at most. 



I have instructed Lieut. Commanding Watson to remain at Ports- 

 mouth until he receives your instructions, and then, unless otherwise 

 directed by the department, to return to his cruising grounds, look- 

 ing in at this place for orders. 



I send by the Fulton instructions for Commander Hollins, of the 

 Cyane, a copy of which is enclosed with this. 



The Fulton is much in want of a passed midshipman to supply the 

 place of Mr. McGunnegle, condemned by medical survey before we 

 left Portsmouth. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



W. B. S KUBRICK, 

 Commanding Eastern Squadron. 



Hon. J. C. DOBBIN, 



Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. 0. 



[Inclosure.]' 



U. S. STEAMER FULTON, 

 Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 6, 1853. 



SIR : In obedience to your orders of the 1st instant, I remained in 

 the harbor of Eastport, Maine, until the morning of the 4th, at which 



