Legation of the United States,
London, February 14,
1880. (Received February 25.)
I have no time to inclose this in a regular dispatch.
[Inclosure in the
foregoing.]
House of Commons, Thursday, February
12.
[The Times, Friday, February 13, 1880.]
canadian and newfoundland
fisheries.
Mr. Gourley asked whether the claim of the
United States Government for $103,000 for damages alleged to have
been done by Newfoundland fishermen in Fortune Bay to the
Massachusetts fishing fleet had been amicably arranged; what
measures were being adopted for the purpose of abrogating or
amending clause 33 of the Treaty of Washington relative to the
Canadian and Newfoundland inshore fisheries; and whether steps were
being taken for the purpose of ascertaining if the proviso of the
convention of 1818, which admits American fishermen to enter British
North American bays or harbors for the purpose of shelter, repairing
damages, and purchase of wood and water, was intended to exclude
them from going inshore to traffic, transship fish, purchase stores,
mend nets, and hire seamen.
Mr. Bourke. The claim of the United States
Government for damages alleged to have been done by Newfoundland
fishermen in Fortune Bay is still under the consideration of Her
Majesty’s Government. No measures are being adopted for the purpose
of abrogating or amending clause 33 of the Treaty of Washington. The
extent of the fishing privileges accorded to the United States on
the shores of Canada and Newfoundland is laid down in the convention
of 1818, and in the Treaty of Washington of 1871. Her Majesty’s
Government have not at present found it necessary to make any
communication to the United States Government with a view of
defining more precisely the exact interpretation of the language of
those treaties.
Mr. Gourley said that on an early day he
would call attention to the convention of 1818 between this country
and the United States relative to fisheries.
