862 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



Sir L. West to Mr. Bayard. 



BRITISH LEGATION, 



Washington, November 15, 1886. (Received November 16.) 

 SIR: With reference to your notes of the 19th and 20th ultimo, I 

 have the honor to inform you that I am requested by the Earl of 

 Iddesleigh to state to you that the Dominion Government have been 

 asked to furnish immediate reports upon the action of their authori- 

 ties in the cases of the American fishing vessels Everett Steele and 

 Pearl Nelson. 



I have, &c., L. S. SACKVELLE WEST. 



Mr. Bayard to Mr. Phelps. 



No. 459.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 



Washington, November 15, 1886. 



SIR : The season for taking mackerel has now closed, and I under- 

 stand the marine police force of the territorial waters in British 

 North America has been withdrawn, so that no further occasion for 

 the administration of a strained and vexatious construction of the 

 convention of 1818, between the United States and Great Britain, is 

 likely for several months at least. 



During this period of comparative serenity, I earnestly hope that 

 such measures will be adopted by those charged with the administra- 

 tion of the respective Governments as will prevent the renewal of the 

 proceedings witnessed during the past fishing season in the ports and 

 harbors or Nova Scotia, and at other points in the maritime provinces 

 of the Dominion, by which citizens of the United States engaged in 

 open-sea fishing were subjected to much unjust and unfriendly treat- 

 ment by the local authorities in those regions, and thereby not only 

 suffered serious loss in their legitimate pursuit, but, by the fear of an- 

 noyance, which was conveyed to others likewise employed, the general 

 business of open-sea fishing by citizens of the United States was im- 

 portantly in]ured. 



My instructions to you during the period of these occurrences have 

 from time to time set forth their regrettable character, and they have 

 also been brought promptly to the notice of the representative of Her 

 Majesty's Government at this capital. 



These representations, candidly and fully made, have not produced 

 those results of checking the unwarranted interference (frequently 

 accompanied by rudeness and an unneccessary demonstration of 

 force) with the rights of our fishermen guarantied by express treaty 

 stipulations, and secured to them as I confidently believe by the 

 public commercial laws and regulations of the two countries, and 

 which are demanded by the laws of hospitality to which all friendly 

 civilized nations owe allegiance. Again I beg that you will invite 

 Her Majesty's counselors gravely to consider the necessity of prevent- 

 ing the repetition of conduct on the part of the Canadian officials 

 which may endanger the peace of two kindred and friendly nations. 



To this end, and to insure to the inhabitants of the Dominion the 

 efficient protection of the exclusive rights to their inshore fisheries, as 



