APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 143 
That the outfit for each semi-annual voyage of these vessels represents an expend- 
iture of 75,000 dollars, equal to 150,000 dollars a-year; 
That each of these vessels, on an average, employs a crew of five whites and about 
twenty Indians, or fifteen to eighteen whites as hunters; 
124 That the probable aggregate value of the product of each voyage is 200,000 
dollars, or 400,000 dollars a-year ; 
That this industry, though as yet only in its infancy, is a very important one for 
so small a community ; 
That the glaring and unlawful seizures and confiscations in Behring’s Sea during 
last season and the present year are completely crushing out this infant industry, 
and causing ruin, and, in several known instances, actual distress, to those who 
have invested their all in the business and relied upon it for a livelihood; 
That the destruction of this industry not only entails ruin and distress upon those 
directly engaged therein, but it affects most injuriously the trade of the province, 
and drives from these waters a race of hardy and adventurous fishermen, who, with 
their families, are large consumers, and who would in time become a very important 
element of strength, if not the nucleus of the future navy of Canada on the Pacific. 
That the rights and interests of British subjects, whether in fisheries or commerce, 
are entitled to the same consideration and protection on the Pacific as on the Atlantic, 
and that it is therefore the duty of the Dominion Government to employ every proper 
means for obtaining immediate and full compensation and redress for past injuries 
and wrongs, as well as to guard against the possibility of a repetition of these high- 
handed outrages in the future; 
That it is believed to be desirable that this question should be included in the 
scope of the duties of the International Commission now understood to be in process 
of organization for the settlement of the fishery disputes existing between Canada 
and the United States of America; and it is considered most important that the said 
Commission should hold one or more of its sittings in this city, in order that those 
more directly acquainted with and interested in the Pacific fisheries may have a 
better opportunity of being heard and making the Commissioners more thoroughly 
acquainted with the subject than would otherwise be possible: 
The Committee advise approval, and that a copy of this Minute be fowarded to 
the Honourable the Secretary of State for Canada [sic]. 
Certified, 
(Signed) JNO. ROBSON, Clerk, Executive Council. 
No. 83. 
The Marquis of Salisbury to the British Plenipotentiaries at the Fisheries 
Conference.— (Substance telegraphed.) 
FOREIGN OFFICE, November 28, 1887. 
GENTLEMEN: I received on the 26th instant a telegram from Mr. 
Chamberlain, inquiring whether a proposal for an International Con- 
ference in regard to the Behring’s Sea fisheries had been accepted by 
Her Majesty’s Government. 
You are aware, from the correspondence which is in your possession, 
that communications with reference to a proposal which would appear 
to have been addressed to some of the Maritime Powers by the United 
States for an International Convention for the protection of seals in the 
Behring’s Sea, were received last October from the German and Swedish 
Chargés d’ Affaires in London. 
No definite invitation, however, for an international understanding on 
this question has yet been received from the Government of the United 
States by Her Majesty’s Government. 
In answer to a question from Mr. Phelps, I have expressed myself as 
being favourabiy disposed to negotiating for an agreement as to a close 
Season in all seal fisheries, to whomsoever belonging, but I-carefully 
separated the question from all controversies as to fishery rights. 
Iam, &c. 
(Signed) SALISBURY. 
