34 CASE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



State, reporting that Lord Bathurst in their conference of September 



14th, said : 



It was not so much the fishing, as the drying and curing on the 

 shores, that had been followed by bad consequences. It happened 

 that our fishermen, b}^ their proximity, could get to the fishing sta- 

 tions sooner in the season than the British, who were obliged to go 

 from Europe, and who, upon arriving there, found all the best fish- 

 ing places and drj^ing and curing places pre-occupied. This had 

 often given rise to disputes and quarrels between them, which in 

 some instances had proceeded even to blows. It had disturbed the 

 peace among the inhabitants on the shores; and, for several years 

 before the war, the complaints to this Governm.ent had been so great 

 and so frequent, that it had been impossible not to pay regard to 

 them.<^ 



It will be further noted that, in proposing to Mr. Adams 

 that negotiations be entered upon for a new arrangement. Lord 

 Bathurst called attention to the above objections to the arrangement 

 under the treat}' of 1TS3 in the hope that the United States might 

 be induced " amicably and cordially, to co-operate with His Majesty's 

 Government in devising such regulations as shall prevent the recur- 

 rence of similar inconveniences." '^ 



To Lord Bathurst's proposal that negotiations for a new arrange- 

 ment be undertaken, Mr. Adams, in his note of January 22, 1816, 

 replied : 



It is for the Government of the United States alone to decide upon 

 the proposal of a negotiation upon the subject. That they will at 

 all times be ready to agree upon arrangements which may obviate 

 and prevent the recurrence of those inconveniences stated to have 

 resulted from the exercise by the people of the United States of 

 these rights and liberties, is not to be doubted.'' 



He added at the close of the same note, after further urging the 

 recognition of the right claimed by the United States to the enjoy- 

 ment of the liberties secured under the treaty of 1783 : 



In submitting these reflections to the consideration of His 

 Majesty's Government, the undersigned is duly sensible to the amic- 

 able and conciliatory sentiments and dispositions towards the United 

 States manifested at the conclusion of Lord Bathurst's note, which 

 will be met by reciprocal and corresponding sentiments and dispo- 

 sitions on the part of the American Government. It will be highly 

 satisfactory to them to be assured that the conduciveness of the object 

 to the national and individual prosperity of the inhabitants of the 

 United States operates with His Majesty's Government as a forcible 

 motive to concession. Undoubtedly, the participation in the liberties 

 of which their right is now maintained is far more important to the 



"^Appendix, p. 268. ''Supra, p. 33. " Appendix, p. 279. 



