Mr. Herbert to Mr. Foster.
Newport, R. I., July 23, 1892.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I duly forwarded to the Governor-General of Canada copy of your note of the 9th instant in regard to common wreckage and salvage privileges in the waters conterminous to the Dominion of Canada and the United States, and at the same time calling his excellency’s attention to your request for information as to the application of the Canadian wrecking act to the waters specially mentioned by the act of Congress of May 24, 1890, namely: The Welland Canal, the canal and improvement of the waters between Lake Erie and Lake Huron, and the waters of St. Mary’s River and Canal.
I have received a telegram from his excellency in reply, in which he states that vessels or goods salved by United States vessels in Canadian waters may be taken through the canals mentioned above in the same way as ordinary vessels or merchandise, but the Canadian wrecking act does not authorize salvage operations by the United States vessels in these canals, as they are not waters contiguous to the United States but are bounded on both sides by Canadian territory.
I have, etc.,