William H. Seward to Abraham Lincoln, April 12, 1866

[Untitled]

The Secretary of State to whom was referred a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 10th instant, in the following words: “Resolved, That the President of the United States be respectfully requested to inform this House what steps have been taken to protect the rights and interests of American citizens in the fishing grounds adjacent to the British provinces, and whether any legislation or other action on the part of Congress is, in his judgment, necessary to secure these rights and interests in consequence of the abrogation of the reciprocity treaty of 1854,” has the honor to report:

That the Secretary of the Navy has, by the President’s direction, taken preparatory measures for sending seasonably a naval force to the fishing grounds adjacent to the British North American provinces, which force, it is believed, will be adequate to protect the rights and interests of American citizens against any unlawful violence.

It is proper to state, however, that this department has reason to believe that there are at present no good grounds for apprehending any collision or any necessity for the employment of force.

The attention of the President, and also the attention of her Majesty’s government, has been directed to the question, whether negotiation or legislation could be advantageously employed in adjusting the differences which have heretofore existed between the United States and Great Britain concerning the fisheries. The measures taken in that regard are not sufficiently matured to render it expedient or beneficial to suggest any form of special action by Congress at the present time.

Respectfully submitted: