Memorandum of Mr. West.
The fishery clauses of the treaty of Washington of 1871 will expire on the 1st of July next. It has been represented by the Canadian Government [Page 461] that much inconvenience is likely to arise in consequence, unless some agreement can be made for an extension of the period.
When the time comes (1st of July next) American ships will be actually engaged in fishing within the territorial waters of the Dominion. These vessels will have been fitted out for the season’s fishing and have made ail their usual arrangements for following it up until its termination in the autumn. If, under these circumstances, the provincial or municipal authorities in Canada were to insist upon their strict lights, and to compel such vessels, on pain of seizure, to desist from fishing, considerable hardship would be occasioned to the owners, and a feeling of bitterness engendered on both sides which it is clearly the interest of both Governments to avert.
It seems therefore desirable, in order to avoid such possible complications, that both Governments should come to an agreement under which the clauses might be in effect extended until the 1st of January, 1886.
If this were done the existing state of things would come to an end at a date between the fishery season of 1885 and that of 1886, and an abrupt transition at a moment when fishery operations were being carried on would be thus avoided.