No. 219.
Sir L.
West to Mr. Bayard.
Washington, September 17, 1886. (Received September 18.)
Sir: With reference to your note of the 30th of July last calling attention to alleged infractions of the convention of 1818 by the authorities at Bonne Bay, Newfoundland, and at Port Amherst, Magdalen Islands, I have now received instructions from Her Majesty’s secretary of state for foreign affairs to inform you of the steps which have been taken in the matter in consequence of the protest of the United States Government.
On the arrival of your note in London, Her Majesty’s secretary of state for the colonies telegraphed to the officers administering the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland calling attention to the cases [Page 414] and explaining that under the treaty of 1818 United States fishermen have the right to fish off the coasts of the Magdalen Islands and off certain coasts of Newfoundland, and stating that it was presumed that the customs officials in those places had not been instructed in the same way as on other parts of the coast.
On the 25th ultimo the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland were further instructed by dispatches from the colonial office to make full reports on the subject of the complaints in question, and it was recommended that special instructions should be issued to the authorities at those places where the inshore fishery has been granted by the convention of 1818 to the United States fishermen, calling their attention to the provisions of that convention, and warning them that no action contrary thereto may be taken in regard to United States fishing vessels,
I may add that information has been received that the warning notices referred to by you were discontinued in the beginning of August.
I have, &c.,