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Stutoo' fishermen shall be admitted to enter such bays or harbours for the purpose 

 of shelter ond of repairing damages therein, of purchasing wood and of obtaining 

 water, an'' for no other purpose whatever; but they shall be under such restrictions 

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

 any other manner whatever abusing the privileges hereby reserved to them." 



In addition to the privileges so enjoyed under the Convention of 1818, Articles 

 XVIII and XXI of the Treaty of Washington granted to United States' 

 citizens : — 



(1.) The liberty to take fish of every kind except shell-fish, on the remaining 

 portion of the coast of Newfoundland, with liberty to land on the said coast for the 

 purpose of drying their nets and curing their fish; provided that in so doing they 

 do not interfere with the rights of private property, or with British fishermen in the 

 peaceable use of any part of the said coast in their occupancy for the said purpose: 

 the salmon and shad tislicries and all otiier fisheries in rivers and mouths of rivers 

 being reserved exclusively for British fishermen. 



(2.) The admission into Newfoundland of fish oil and fish of all kinds, except 

 fish of the inland lakes and rivers falling into them, and except fish preserved in oil, 

 being the produce of fisheries of the United States, free of duty. 



The enjo>'nicnt of these privileges to continue for the period of twelve years 

 certain. 



In return itv the privileges so granted to United States' citizens, British subjects 

 acquired under ti:e same Treutv : — 



1. Similar rights of fishirg and landing on United States' coasts, north of the 

 39th parallel of nortli latitude ; and, 



2. The admission ir>to the United States of fish oil and fish of all kinds, except 

 fish preserved in oil, being the produce of the fisheries of Newfoundland, free of 

 duty. 



These privileges also are to continue for a period of twelve years, 

 certain. 



A reference to the accompanying map will show that the coast, the entire 

 . freedom of which for fishing purposes has thus been acquired by the United States 

 for a period of twelve years, embraces that portion extending from the Raiheau 

 Islands on the south-west coast of the island eastward and northwardly, to the 

 Quirpon Islands. This coast contains an area of upwards of 11,000 square miles, 

 including admittedly the most valuable cod fisheries of the world. Fish of other 

 descriptions, namely, herrinf;, capelin, .'>".d squid, which are by far the best bait for 

 the successful prosecution of the cod fisheries, can be taken in utilimited quantities 

 close inshore along the whole coast, whilst in some parts are turbot, halibut, and 

 lance. 



The subjoined tables (Atjnex B) of the exports of fish from Newfoundland 

 for the past seven years will show the enormous and increasing value of these 

 fisheries ; and the Census Returns also annexed (Annex C) afford the clearest 

 evidence that the catch is very large in proportion to the numi)er of men, vessels, and 

 boats engaged in fishing operations on the coasts of Newfoundland, which have 

 been tlirown open to United States' citizens under the Treaty of Washington. 



In addition to the value, as shown above, of the inshore fisheries, the proximity 

 of the bank fisheries to the coast of Newfoundland forms a very important element 

 in the present in(|uiry. These fisheries are situated at distances varying from 35 

 to 200 miles from the coast of Newfoundland, and are productive in the highest 

 degree. Although they are open to vessels of all nations, their successful prosecu- 

 tion depends almost entirely in securing a commodious and proximate basis of 

 operations. Bait, which can be most conveniently obtained in the inshore waters 

 of Newfoundland, is indispensable, and the supply of capelin, squid, and herring is 

 there inexhaustible for this purpose. 



With reference to the importance which has from earliest times been attached 

 to the value of tlie fisheries of Newfoundland, it is to be observed that a great 

 portion of the Articles in the Treaties of 1783 and 1818 between Great Britain and 

 the United States is devoted to careful stipulations respecting their enjoyment; and 

 it will not escape the observation of the Commissioners that the privileges granted 

 to United States' fishermen in those Treaties were always limited in extent, and did 

 not confer the entire freedom for fishing operations which is now accorded by the 

 Treaty ot Washington, even on those portions of the coast which were then thrown 

 open to them. Thus, whilst according the privilege of fishing on certain portions 

 of the coast, the Treaty of 1783 denied the right of landing to dry and cure on the 



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