The Secretary of State to
the British Ambassador.
Department of State,
Washington, February 13,
1906.
My Dear Mr. Ambassador:
I think you will be gratified by the two extracts which I inclose from
letters written by British and Newfoundland officers to the agent of the
American Department of Commerce and Labor, who was on the Fish
Commission vessel, the Grampus, during the
present fishing season on the Newfoundland coast. The people on both
sides seem to have conducted themselves with great good sense and good
temper.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Secretary of Commerce and
Labor to Secretary of
State
Department of Commerce and Labor,
Office of the
Secretary,
Washington, February 9,
1906.
Sir: At the request of the commissioner of
fisheries, I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the
confidential information of the Department of State, extracts from
two personal letters regarding the Newfoundland fisheries question
received by Mr. A. B. Alexander, who represented this department on
the Newfoundland coast during the past season.
A copy of the commissioner’s letter is also transmitted herewith for
your further information in the matter.
Respectfully,
[Subinclosure 1.]
Commissioner Bowers to Secretary of Commerce
and Labor.
Department of Commerce and Labor,
Bureau of
Fisheries,
Washington, February 9,
1906.
Sir: I transmit herewith, for the
confidential information of the Department of State, extracts from
two personal letters regarding the Newfoundland fishery question
received by Mr. A. B. Alexander, who represented this department on
the Newfoundland coast during the past season. The first letter is
from the captain of the British cruiser Latonia, who was on the grounds in his vessel during
practically the entire fishery season and was personally familiar
with the operations of the department’s schooner Grampus and the American fishing vessels. The second
letter is from the Newfoundland inspector of customs, who was the
official representative of the Newfoundland government on the treaty
coast during the fishing season and the source of the information on
which that government based its protest to London against the
alleged irregular action of the Grampus and
other American vessels.
Respectfully,
(Signed)
Geo. M.
Bowers,
Commissioner.
[Subinclosure 2.]
Extract from letter to A. B. Alexander from Joseph O’Reilly,
inspector of customs for Newfoundland, dated January 29, 1906:
“I think on the whole the season has been fairly successful for all
connected with the fishery. While we had no reason to complain of
the manner in [Page 677] which the
fishery was conducted, there is room for improvement and another
season better regulations will be necessary in the interest of your
people as well as our own. I think that we both should be pleased
how we came out of that fishery business, as you well know there
were in the early days of the dispute all the elements of serious
complications and that an injudicious act might at any moment result
in serious trouble. * * * I feel pleased at how the whole thing
terminated.”
[Subinclosure 3.]
Extract from letter to A. B. Alexander from H. I. Hibbert, captain of
the British cruiser Latona, dated December
15, 1905:
“I should like to take this opportunity of thanking you for the great
courtesy and kindness you have shown me in all matters in which we
have had any dealings. I am so thankful that everything has passed
off quietly and without any troubles, and I am convinced that this
result is mainly due to the excellent advice and counsel given by
you to the fishing skippers.”