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Correspondence (private letter)
Lord, W. Smith to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes November 1863, CO 60:17, no. 11129, 484.

Abstract
Lord, W. Smith to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes November 1863, CO 60:17, no. 11129, 484.
Correspondence (private letter). Minutes (2), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Lord to Secretary of State
48 Brunswick Terrace
Grosvenor Park
Camberwell
November 1863
My Lord
A Company is projected under "the Companies Act 1862" for the purpose of establishing Fisheries on the Coasts of Vancouver Island and British Columbia and before any decided steps can be taken it is requisite to know whether the right of granting the FisheryManuscript image appertains to Her Majesty's Government or to that of the Colonies.
The Company contemplates starting with a paid up Capital of £100,000 and will provide an efficient staff to carry out the objects of the said Company if Her Majesty or the Colonies will give a Charter or Grant for the exclusive right of Fishing on the East and West Coasts of Vancouver Island and on the Mainland from the British Boundary 49o lat. N to Sitka the Russian Frontier—the right to extend to all the streams and Rivers inland.
I beg to request the favour to beManuscript image informed whether under the circumstances of the case such a Grant or Charter would be made to the Company.
I have the honour to be My Lord
Your Lordships most obedient Servant
W. Smith Lord
late Naturalist to the British North American Boundary Commission

The Right Honourable
The Secretary of State
Colonial Office
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
In any case I apprehend the Crown would not make a grant of this extensive or exclusive nature without some previous action on the part of the V.C. Island Legislature, and it is most improbable that the local Legislature would listen to any proposal for surrendering to a Company the sole right of fishing on the Coasts & in the Rivers of the Colony?
VJ 18 Novr
This seems to me a monstrous proposition. I shd simply answer that the Duke cannot hold out the least prospect that H.M's Govt would grant, or would enable the local Govt to grant, a monopoly of the right of fishing on the Coasts of Vancouver Island and of B. Columbia, and on all the rivers and streams. (When will impudence cease?)
TFE 18 Nov
N 20
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Elliot to Lord, 23 November 1863, as follows:
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Draft
23 Nov. 1863
Sir,
In answer to the application made by you on the subject, I am d[irecte]d by the Duke of Newcastle to inform you that His Grace cannot hold out the least prospect that H.M. Govt would grant or would enable the local Govts to grant a monopoly of the right of fishing on the coasts of Vancouvers Island and of B. Columbia, and in all the Rivers and Streams.
I am etc.
T.F.E.
Lord, W. Smith to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes November 1863, CO 60:17, no. 11129, 484. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B636L02.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)