negotiations resulting in treaty of 1818. 53 



5. Fisheries. 



The proceedings, deliberations, and communications upon this sub- 

 ject, which took place at the negotiation of Ghent, will be fresh in 

 the remembrance of Mr. Gallatin. Mr. Rush possesses copies of the 

 correspondence with the British Government relating to it after the 

 conclusion of the peace, and of that which has passed here between 

 Mr. Bagot and this Government. Copies of several letters received 

 by members of Congress during the late session, from the parts of 

 the country most deeply interested in the fisheries, are now trans- 

 mitted." 



The President authorizes you to agree to an article whereby the 

 United States will desist from the liberty of fishing and curing and 

 drying fish, within the British jurisdiction generally^ upon condition 

 that it shall be secured as a permanent right, not liable to be im- 

 paired by any future war, from Cape Ray to the Ramea islands, and 

 from Mount Joli, on the Labrador coast, through the strait of Belle- 

 isle, indefinitely north, along the coast; the right to extend as well 

 to curing and drying the fish as to fishing.^ 



Negotiations were accordingly entered upon, and Messrs, Frederick 

 John Robinson and Henry Goulburn, who had meanwhile been ap- 

 pointed plenipotentiaries on the part of Great Britain, met Messrs. 

 Albert Gallatin and Richard Rush, plenipotentiaries on the part 

 of the United States, for their first formal conference on August 27, 

 1818.'' As a result of the negotiations so undertaken the treaty of 

 October 20, 1818, was concluded, and the agreement arrived at upon 

 the fisheries question will be found in Article I of that treaty, which 

 is as follows: 



"Whereas differences have arisen respecting the Liberty claimed by 

 the United States for the Inhabitants thereof, to take, dry and cure 

 Fish on Certain Coasts, Bays, Harbours and Creeks of His Britannic 

 Majesty's Dominions in America, it is agreed between the High 

 Contracting Parties, that the Inhabitants of the said United States 

 shall have forever, in common with the Subjects of His Britannic 

 Majesty, the Liberty to take Fish of every kind on that part of the 

 Southern Coast of Newfoundland which extends from Cape Ray to 

 the Rameau Islands, on the Western and Northern Coast of New- 

 foundland, from the said Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands, on the 

 shores of the Magdalen Islands, and also on the Coasts, Bays, Har- 

 bours, and Creeks from Mount Joly on the Southern Coast of Labra- 

 dor, to and through the Straits of Belleisle and thence Northwardly 

 indefinitely along the Coast, without prejudice however, to any of the 

 exclusive Rights of the Hudson Bay Company ; and that the Ameri- 

 can Fishermen shall also have liberty forever, to dry and cure Fish 

 in any of the unsettled Bays, Harbours, and Creeks of the Southern 



"A thorough search for the inclosiires referred to has been made in the records 

 and files of the United States Government and elsewhere but no trace of them 

 has been found. 



^ Appendix, p. 304. '^ Appendix, p. 308. 



