16 



dispute settled then and forever, or fighting it out, as had been 

 the question of the right claimed by Britain to stop and search 

 •our' vessels on the high seas for British seamen, theT/ shirked 

 the responisibiliti/, and the treaty of 1814 was made without 

 ancntion ©f the fisheries. 



The American government claimed, and tlie fishermen used, 

 1;he rights confirmed to them by the treaty of 1783, the same 

 «,s before : with what result ? They were harrassed and troubled 

 'b}'- British cruisers, who made captures for alleged infringement 

 'of their fishing laws. What did our government do ? Fight 

 for theifT rights ? No ; they appointed another commission to 

 settle it. And how was it settled? Another treaty was made, 

 -called the Treaty of 1818, a treaty which took away almost all 

 the fishermen's rights of 1783, making him next to an outlaw 

 in British ports. Hear it ! After providing for right of fish- 

 •ery on a portion of the southern, western, and a portion of the 

 northern coast of Newfoundland and coast of Labrador, rights 

 now of little value, and the shores of Magdalen islands, listen 

 to what tiie American Commissioners inserted in that treaty : — 



" And the United States hereby renounces forever any liberty 

 lieretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof, to 

 take, dry, or cure fish on or within three miles of any of the 

 •coasts, bays, creeks, or harbors of his Britannic Majesty's 

 dominions, not included within the before mentioned limits. 

 •^'■Provided, however, that the American fishermen shall be ad- 

 mitted to enter such harbors for the purpose of shelter, of 

 repairing damages therein, of purchasing wood, and of obtain- 

 ing water, and for no other purpose whatever. But they shall 

 ibe under such restrictions as shall be necessary to prevent their 

 taking or curing fish therein, or in any other manner whatever 

 abusing the privileges hereby secured to them." 



