674 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



ewn methods in their equal right, this government regards our fisher- 

 men as within the treaty right and under no necessity of conforming, 

 either in regard to days or seasons, or apparatus, to the prescriptions 

 of the local regulations of the provinces. 



You will, however, be careful to make our fishermen understand 

 that they are not to resist the lawful authorities in any legal or judi- 

 cial process or proceedings which may be taken against them in main- 

 tenance of these local laws. Taking care to preserve due evidence of 

 this interruption of their rights and of the loss and damage thus occa- 

 sioned them, for the vindication of their rights and the redress of 

 their grievances, they will leave to their government the proper repre- 

 sentation to the British Government to secure indemnity for the past 

 and the prevention of future injuries. 



I do not deem it useful to indicate to Mr. Foster or yourself more 

 specifically the line or methods of your inquiries. As full and trust- 

 worthy an exhibition of the working of the system of the Treaty of 

 Washington within the three-miles line as you can gather from your 

 own observation and from the evidence which you can acquire, is 

 desired as the result of this expedition. While on board the Kear- 

 sarge you and Mr. Foster will be observant, of course, of the system 

 of the ship's discipline so far as it may need to affect the execution of 

 the duty confided to you, and to the cordial co-operation of the naval 

 authorities both you and the government can safely trust the pros- 

 perity of the service expected from you. 



You will correspond only with this department, and be careful to 

 avoid any communications that may lead to any publication of the 

 progress or results of the cruise, except by authority of this 

 department. 



Pam, &c., WILLIAM M. EVARTS. 



Mr. Evarts to Sir Edward Thornton. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 

 Washington, August 5, 1879. 



SIR : I have the honor to acquaint you with the purpose of this gov- 

 ernment, in view of the importance of the pending questions respect- 

 ing the fisheries of Newfoundland and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 

 and for the better obtaining of the latest accessible information with 

 respect to those fisheries, to send a naval vessel of the United States 

 to the maritime provinces and ports of the Dominion and the adjacent 

 fishing-grounds, for the purpose of making a careful examination of 

 the conduct of those inshore fisheries by the American fishing fleet, 

 which, under the Treaty of Washington, may visit those waters, and 

 also of the treatment which our fishermen and their industry receive 

 at the hands of the local authorities and population. 



The United States steamer Kearsarge, under the charge of Com- 

 mander Henry F. Picking, U. S. N., has been detailed for the assigned 

 duty, and is now in the Gulf, with orders to await at Shediac, New 

 Brunswick, the arrival of the agent, who has been directed to embark 

 at that place. This agent is instructed to make inquiry and rej-ort 

 as to the operation of the treaty stipulations and local laws and the 

 general condition of affairs in that locality, so far as the fishing inter- 



