THE NORTHEAST COAST FISHERIES 507 



American fishing vessels. American fishermen were not jus- 

 tified in tarrying in the strait or fishing therein, but its pro- 

 hibition merely as a channel of communication was distinctly 

 an unfriendly act. 



The affair of the Washington had not been forgotten ; 

 claims for indemnity were presented by her owners and the 

 matter was laid before the British authorities. In 1852 this 

 claim along with others was referred to a commission in 

 London. By decision of an umpire, the Bay of Fundy was 

 declared not to be a mare clausum within the meaning of the 

 treaty of 1818. In this matter, then, the American contention 

 was sustained, and one of the unhappy subjects of contro- 

 versy growing out of the fisheries was laid at rest. 



About this time (1847-54) commercial relations with the 

 Canadian provinces were beginning to develop along new 

 lines. The free-trade policy of England had opened her 

 ports to the world's trade, and this to a large extent had 

 deprived the Dominion of her most valuable markets ; and 

 her merchants hopefully turned to the United States. To 

 enter American markets with their products became to them 

 an object of prime importance. In 1847 overtures were 

 made to Congress for reciprocity, Canada promising full 

 freedom to American fishermen in return for a remission of 

 tariff duties upon her fish. For several years Congress 

 refused to consider the question, and the colonies vented 

 their displeasure by an increased naval force to patrol their 

 waters and terrorize American fishermen. It was soon sus- 

 pected that there was a method in this madness of a Do- 

 minion navy, and the attempt, supposed or real, to coerce 

 the United States into a reciprocity treaty, by annoying her 

 fishermen, provoked an animated discussion in Congress. 

 Mr. Hamlin, of Maine, declared that the sending of a naval 

 force to the fishing grounds, pending negotiations, was " noth- 

 ing more nor less than to compel the United States to legis- 

 late under duress," and to this he, for one, was unwilling to 

 submit. A growing sentiment manifested itself to despatch 

 to Canadian waters a naval force of equal proportions. Mr. 

 Webster promised the people of Massachusetts that the 



