BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 527 



This was the state of affairs until the year 1847, when, in conse- 

 quence of a petition addressed to the Queen by the Canadian Parlia- 

 ment, negotiations were opened between the two governments for the 

 establishment of reciprocal free trade between Canada and the United 

 States; and on the 1st of November, 1849, Sir H. Bulwer, who was 

 then about to proceed to Washington as British Minister, was author- 

 ized to enter into a negotiation by which access to the fisheries of all 

 the colonies (except Newfoundland, which refused to consent on any 

 terms) should be given to the citizens of the United States, in return 

 .for reciprocity of trade with the United States, in all natural pro- 

 ductions, such as fish, wheat, timber, &c. 



The proposal was favorably received by the United States Govern- 

 ment, but some delay occurred, owing to the death of General Taylor 

 in 1850. The new President, however, doubted whether it was a 

 proper subject for a Treaty, and thought that it should be done by 

 legislation, and accordingly a bill was brought in for the purpose. 

 The bill was, however, thrown put, and from one cause or another 

 nothing was done from that time until 1852, when a desire was 

 evinced on that part of the United States Government to come to an 

 arrangement on the subject, and a draft convention having been pre- 

 pared, a copy thereof was sent home by the British Minister on the 

 19th December 1852, together with remarks made by the President 

 thereon. 



A good deal of correspondence passed between the two Govern- 

 ments on the subject, but, owing to difficulties connected with the 

 question of Tariff, the United States Government appeared anxious 

 to have the Fisheries Question dealt with separately, but to this the 

 British Government would not assent. The fishing season of 1853 

 accordingly opened without any agreement having been come to 

 with the United States, and fortunately, owing to the measures taken 

 by both Governments for the preservation of British rights, came 

 to a close without the occurrence of further causes of dissatisfaction. 



In the mean time, negotiations for a Treaty had been continued 

 by the two Governments ; and in the month of May, 1854, Lord Elgin, 

 who was on his way to resume his duties as Governor General of 

 Her Majesty's North American Provinces, received instructions to 

 visit Washington, and to ascertain the views of the United States 

 Government, and if any favorable opportunity presented itself, to 

 conclude a Treaty on the subject. So successfully were Lord Elgin's 

 negotiations conducted, that in a letter dated 12th June, 1854, he was 

 able to announce that he had executed a Treaty with Mr. Secretary 

 Marcy relative to Fisheries and Reciprocity of Trade between the 

 United States and the British Provinces in North America. This 

 was the Reciprocity Treaty signed on the 5th June, 1854, and con- 

 firmed by the United States Senate on the 3d August of the same 

 year. Its main provisions were as follows: 



British waters on the east coast of North America were thrown 

 open to United States citizens, and United States waters north of 

 the 36th degree of north latitude were thrown open to British fisher- 

 men; excepting always the salmon and shad fisheries (which were 

 exclusively reserved to the subjects of each country) , and certain rivers 

 and mouths of rivers to be determined by a Commission to be ap- 

 pointed for that purpose. Certain articles of produce of the British 



