PERIOD FROM 1871 TO 1905. 865 



[Inclosure No. 1 ] 



Proposals for settlement of all questions in dispute in relation to the 

 fisheries on the northeastern coasts of British North America. 



Whereas in the first article of the convention between the United 

 States and Great Britain, concluded and signed in London on the 

 20th of October, 1818, it was 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 Newfoundland, from 

 the said Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands, on the shores of the Mag- 

 dalen Islands, and also on the coasts, bays, harbors, and creeks, from 

 Mount Joly on the southern coast of Labrador 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's Bay Company; and that the American fishermen shall 

 also have liberty forever to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled 

 bays, harbors, and creeks of the southern part of the coast of New- 

 foundland, here above described, and of the coast of Labrador; but 

 so soon as the same, or any portion thereof, shall be settled, it shall 

 not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such por- 

 tion so settled without previous agreement for such purpose with the 

 inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors of the ground; " and was de- 

 clared that " the United States hereby renounce forever any liberty 

 heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the inhabitants thereof to take, dry, 

 or cure fish on or within 3 marine miles of any of the coasts, bays, 

 creeks, or harbors of His Britannic Majesty's dominions in America 

 not included within the above-mentioned limits: Provided, however, 

 That the American fishermen shall be admitted to enter such bays 

 or harbors for the purpose of shelter, and of repairing damages 

 therein, of purchasing wood, and obtaining water, and for no other 

 purpose whatever. But they shall be under such restriction as may 

 be necessary to prevent their taking, drying, or curing fish therein, 

 or in any other manner whatever abusing the privileges hereby re- 

 served to them;" and whereas differences have arisen in regard to 

 the extent of the above-mentioned renunciation, the Government of 

 the United States and Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, being 

 equally desirous of avoiding further misunderstanding, agree to 

 appoint a mixed commission for the following purposes, namely: 



(1) To agree upon and establish by a series of lines the limits 

 which shall separate the exclusive from the common right of fishing 

 on the coasts and in the adjacent waters of the British North Amer- 

 ican colonies, in conformity with the first article of the convention 

 of 1818, except that the bays and harbors from which American 

 fishermen are in the future to be excluded, save for the purposes 

 for which entrance into bays and harbors is permitted by said article, 

 are hereby agreed to be taken to be such bays and hnrbors as are 10 

 or less than 10 miles in width, and the distance of 3 marine miles 

 from such bays or harbors shall be measured from a straight 

 line drawn across the bay or hnrbor, in the part neirest the entrance, 

 at the first point where the width does not exceed 10 miles; the said 



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