180 The Frederick Gerring, Jr. 



Enclosures : 



1. Chart as above mentioned. 



2. Copy of evidence. 



3. Brief of Senator Hoar. 



4. Brief of Mr. W. H. Moody, M. C. 



[Enclosure.'] 

 Memorandum by Senator Hoar. 



For the consideration of the Secretary of State, relating to 

 the claim of Captain Edward Morris of Gloucester, Mass., against 

 the Government of Great Britain for the unlawful seizure deten- 

 tion and condemnation of the fishing vessel Frederick Gerring, Jr., 

 the property of said Edward Morris. 



The facts as claimed by Captain Morris are stated in his 

 letter to the Honorable John Sherman, Secretary of State, dated 

 June 12, 1897, the original of which is on the files of the Depart- 

 ment. For convenience a copy of that letter is hereto annexed. 



The point stated in Captain Morris's letter that the rock 

 therein referred to could not lawfully be considered as the termi- 

 nus of a line drawn from one headland to another for the pur- 

 pose of determining the three-mile limit from ihe shore, as de- 

 scribed in the Convention of 1818, does not seem to have been 

 taken in the Canadian court. 



Captain Morris's statement that the vessel and fish captured 

 had been depreciated in value through the negligence of the 

 Canadian government so that the property returned to him was 

 practically worthless is denied, it is understood, by that govern- 

 ment. 



It is also understood that the Department of State has ex- 

 pressed to the government of Great Britain its gratification in 

 view of the action of the Canadian authorities in ordering the 

 release of the vessel. 



From Captain Morris's statement it appears that the Gerring 

 being without question on the high seas, enclosed a catch of 

 mackerel in her purse seine. She was on the high seas when cap- 

 tured unless being within three miles of a line drawn to the barren 



