711.428/1282
The Minister in Canada (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Extract]
Ottawa, April 23, 1929.
[Received April
26.]
No. 959
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my
confidential telegram No. 53 of April 20, 12 noon,40 regarding seine fishing in the
Missisquoi Bay section of Lake Champlain, and to enclose herewith a copy
of a note, No. 38, of April 22, 1929…
I have [etc.]
[Page 73]
[Enclosure]
The Canadian Secretary of State for External
Affairs (Mackenzie
King) to the American
Minister (Phillips)
Ottawa, April 22, 1929.
No. 38
Sir: I have the honour to acknowledge your
note of April 3, 1929, No. 335, suggesting that in view of the fact
that various specific questions affecting fisheries preservation in
boundary waters are on the way to a settlement, the Government of
the United States trusts that in these circumstances the Canadian
Government would be prepared to join in the appointment of a joint
fact-finding commission to investigate the Missisquoi Bay fishery
question and to make recommendations regarding a solution.
I have pleasure in stating that the Canadian Government accepts the
proposal of a fact-finding commission, and will be prepared to
discuss appropriate arrangements. In accepting the proposal,
however, it is desired to point out that, according to the
information which has been conveyed to the competent Canadian
department, in addition to the pickerel taken in the seines in
Missisquoi Bay, large quantities of the more undesirable fish such
as perch are taken, and that if the latter fish are not removed
their ascendancy in the whole lake area might result in detriment to
the pickerel fishery. It is also understood that in Lake Champlain
waters fishing through the ice is carried on to an important extent,
resulting in the capture of pickerel with detrimental results. It is
therefore considered that these points among others should be
carefully inquired into by the proposed commission.
Accept [etc.]
