. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Enclosure]
The Canadian Secretary of State for External
Affairs (
Mackenzie
King
) to the American
Minister (
Phillips
)
The Secretary of State for External Affairs presents his compliments
to the Minister of the United States and with further reference to
the note of the 15th May, 1929, from the Honourable William
Phillips, regarding the proposed power development in Passamaquoddy
Bay by the Canadian Dexter P. Cooper Company, has the honour to
invite attention to the meeting of the Sub-Committee of the North
American Committee on Fisheries Investigation which was held at St.
Andrews, New Brunswick, on the 23rd and 24th July last, with a view
to determining what further investigation would likely be needed to
demonstrate, as far as such demonstration is possible without
constructing the dams themselves, what the effect of the proposed
power development would be on the fisheries of that region.
It may be recalled that on the 22nd March, 1929, the Sub-Committee
had submitted a report in which the belief was expressed that a
fuller investigation was needed. They now report, as a result of
their subsequent conference at St. Andrews, that in their opinion
such fuller investigation, likely to provide the soundest basis that
can be reached for forecasting the effects, should be, for the first
year at least, along certain lines which they describe; that this
description deals with such complex problems that the investigation
can be properly carried out only by a highly trained and experienced
personnel and will require at least two years of field observations;
that even then it is recognized that the construction of the dams is
the only decisive way to determine their effects.
According to our information, the total cost of carrying out the
investigation is roughly estimated at $45,000. per annum.
The Secretary of State for External Affairs has the honour to state
that in the opinion of the Canadian authorities it is desirable, in
view of the interest of both countries in the fisheries of that
region that such an investigation, if approved, should be carried
out by the joint efforts and at the joint expense of both
Governments. To that end, it is suggested that a Commission or
Committee consisting of not more than two or three representatives
from each country be given [Page 89]
authority to arrange for the carrying out of the work, to employ
such assistance as may be necessary etc., and to consider and agree
upon the results thereof.
If this course is acceptable to the Government of the United States
and they are prepared to have the work started as soon as possible,
the Canadian Government desire to state that no time will be lost in
naming their representatives on the proposed Committee.57
Ottawa
, 20 September,
1929.
