2302 NORTH ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES ARBITRATION. 



M. Delfosse was then, upon the proposal of the United States Com- 

 missioner, elected President of the commission, and a secretary hav- 

 ing been appointed by him, the three Commissioners proceeded, in 

 accordance with the 23rd article of the treaty, to make and sign a 

 solemn declaration that they would impartially and carefully ex- 

 amine and decide the matters referred to them to the best of their 

 judgment and according to justice and equity. 



The commission then, after a meeting on the next day for the pur- 

 pose of approving and signing the protocol of the previous day's pro- 

 ceedings, adjourned until the 28th day of July, 1877. 



The commissioners having met pursuant to adjournment on the 28th 

 day of July, the United States agent named the counsel retained on 

 behalf of the United States, and at the next conference, held on the 

 30th day of July, the Case of Her Majesty's Government was opened, 

 and was concluded on the 18th day of September ; that of the United 

 States of America was opened on the 19th of the same month, and 

 closed on the 24th day of October. 



It is unnecessary that I should here recite each step in these length- 

 ened proceedings, it will be sufficient to note that eighty-four wit- 

 nesses in all were examined on behalf of Her Britannic Majesty's 

 Government and seventy-eight on the part of the United States of 

 America. These witnesses were subjected to the most searching cross- 

 examination by counsel of the greatest ability; and amongst those 

 examined were to be found the names of many persons who, from 

 their special knowledge of the subject, both practically and generally, 

 were well qualified to express an opinion, and whose evidence was 

 entitled to the greatest weight in the investigation of the matter. 



Three hundred and nineteen affidavits were produced in support of 

 the Case of Her Britannic Majesty's Government, and 280 in sup- 

 port of that of the United States, the deponents comprising those 

 who were also in a position to give valuable and convincing testi- 

 mony with regard to the fisheries, but who from various causes were 

 unable to give oral evidence before the commission. 



A voluminous mass of documentary and statistical matter was pro- 

 duced and submitted to the commission on either side, and about 

 fourteen entire days were devoted to the arguments of counsel upon 

 the whole Case. 



The commission held in all seventy-eight sittings, of about four 

 hours' duration each, and the proceedings terminated on the 23rd day 

 of November, 1877, by the announcement of the following award : 



" The undersigned Commissioners, appointed under articles 22 and 23 of the 

 Treaty of Washington of the 8th May, 1871, to determine, having regard to the 

 privileges accorded by the "United States to the subjects of Her Britannic 

 Majesty, as stated in articles 19 and 21 of said treaty, the amount of any com- 

 pensation which in their opinion ought to be paid by the Government of the 

 United States to the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, in return for the 

 privileges accorded to the citizens of the United States under article 18 of the 

 said treaty: 



" Having carefully and impartially examined the matters referred to 

 1391 them according to justice and equity, in conformity with the solemn 

 declaration made and subscribed by them on the 15th day of June, 1877 ; 

 "Award the sum of 5,500,000 dollars, in gold, to be paid by the Government 

 of the United States to the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, in accord- 

 ance with the provisions of the said treaty. 



" Signed at Halifax, this 23rd day of November, 1877. 



(Signed) " MATTBICE DELFOSSE. 

 "A. T. GALT." 



