§ The House having resolved itself into a Committee on the Convention with America,
Mr. Robinsonsaid, that the measure he had to propose, was simple and short, and not liable to objection. The committee was aware, that by a Convention with the United States, the Americans possessed the right of fishing on the coasts of a considerable part of his majesty's North American possessions. This right they had, by the recent convention renounced. It so happened, however, that there was no municipal law to enforce this treaty, and 1479 if American vessels should be found carrying on the fishery in the harbour of Halifax, or on the coast of Labrador, or any other place from which the convention excluded them, they could not be condemned by any law now in existence. His object was, to give his majesty the power to enforce an observance of that treaty, as well as to issue regulations for the carrying on of the fishery in those parts of our coasts which remained open to the subjects of the United States. There was another subject, respecting which he should have to make a motion hereafter, viz. the renewal of the Commercial Convention of 1815, which made it necessary to continue the regulations under that treaty. The measure he should now propose was, to give his majesty's council power to issue instructions to his naval commanders, and other officers in that part of the world, to carry the provisions of the treaty respecting the fishery into effect: as the distance of place, and the intricacy of details required, would render a more distinct law ineffectual. — The chairman was then directed to move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the taking of fish on the coast of Labrador, and other parts of North America.—Leave was given.