BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 269 



With reference to the proposed regulations, they have to observe 

 that the proposal of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, is that if 

 the license and payments are refused by a fishing vessel, she is to be 

 compelled to depart or to be seized. 



It is certain that the United States will send vessels of war to look 

 after their fleet of 700 fishing vessels in the waters of the Dominion, 

 and such a seizure as is here contemplated, may well take place in the 

 presence of an armed vessel of the United States. 



The knowledge and concurrence of the United States in these 

 orders, before their being put in force, would seem to be necessary to 

 prevent collision. 



Communication and discussion before hand would perhaps save 

 serious disputes. 



My Lords would be glad, as this question may lead to serious com- 

 plications, to receive precise instructions from the Secretary of State, 

 as to the orders to be given to Sir Rodney Mundy. 



They propose to telegraph the heads of any instructions, and to 

 write to him by the mail of the 5th inst. 

 I have, &c. 



(Signed) W. G. ROMAINE. 



The UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE PROVINCES, &c., &c., &c. 



[Inclosure in foregoing.] 



Vice-Admiral Sir R. Mundy to the Secretary to ike Admiralty. 



No. 127.] ROYAL, ALFRED, 



Halifax, 15th May, 1867. 



SIR: In transmitting, for the information of the Lords Commis- 

 sioners of the Admiralty, the copies of a correspondence which has 

 passed between the Governor General of the Dominion of Canada 

 and myself on the subject of the protection of the fisheries in Cana- 

 dian waters, I would ask to receive an early intimation of their Lord- 

 ships' views, relative to permitting a Custom House officer, or other 

 authorized official, to be received on board each ship employed on 

 this service, for the purpose of issuing the licenses and receiving 

 the fees. 



2nd. I wish also to call their Lordships' attention to the measures 

 which the Privy Council of Canada have submitted to Sir John 

 Young, and which His Excellency has approved, for preventing the 

 encroachment of the American fishing vessels within the treaty limits 

 of three miles of British territory. 



3rd. Since the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty in 1866, the 

 system of " warnings " to trespassers, has not realized the anticipa- 

 tions of the Government by which it was established in that year, 

 hence the desire of the present Dominion Executive to resort to the 

 more stringent steps proposed in the Minute of the Minister of 

 Marine and Fisheries. 



In the course of the ensuing summer, when on an average of 700 

 vessels belonging to the United States are occupied fishing in these 

 narrow waters, grave complications may arise, and possibly collisions 

 take place, and the question is, therefore, one deserving of the serious 

 consideration of Her Majesty's Government. 



