§ MR. GOURLEYasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If the claim of the United States Government for 103,000 dollars for damages alleged to have been done by Newfoundland fishermen in Fortune Bay to the Massachusetts fishing fleet has been amicably arranged; what measures are being adopted for the purpose of abrogating or amending Clause 33 of the Treaty of Washington relative to the Canadian and Newfoundland inshore fisheries; and, whether steps are being taken for the purpose of ascertaining if the Proviso of the Convention of 1818, which admits American fishermen to enter British North American bays or harbours for the purpose of shelter, repairing damages, and purchase of wood and water, is intended to exclude them from going inshore to traffic, tranship, fish, purchase stores, mend nets, and hire seamen?
§ MR. BOURKESir, the claim of the United States Government for damages alleged to have been done by Newfoundland fishermen in Fortune Bay is still under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. No measures are being adopted for the purpose of abrogating or amending Clause 33 of the Treaty of Washington. The extent of the fishing privileges accorded to the United States on the shores of Canada and Newfoundland is laid down in the Convention of 1818, and in the Treaty of Washington of 1871. Her Majesty's Government have not at present found it necessary to make any communication to the United States Government with the view of defining more precisely the exact interpretation of the language of those Treaties.
§ MR. GOURLEYsaid, that on an early day he would call attention to the Convention of 1818 between this country and the United States relative to fisheries.