Shepherd to Labouchere

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Ball's letter
dated Downing Street 15th Instant enclosing Copy of [a] letter
addressed to the Colonial Office by direction of the Earl of Clarendon,
transmitting Copy of a Dispatch from Her Majesty's Minister at
Washington relative to the extension of the Reciprocity Treaty with the
United States to Vancouver's Island, which in accordance with his
request I have laid before the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company.

In reply, I have the honour to state that at present the Directors
of the Hudson's Bay Company are not aware of any objection to the
acceptance by Her Majesty's Government of the counter Proposition that
Mr Crampton expects will be put forward by the American Government;
provided due care be taken that the right of fishing reciprocally
conceded be restricted to sea fishing, and that the right of salmon
fishing whether in bays, creeks, or along the coast generally, as
well as in rivers, and the mouths of rivers, be reserved to the Hudson's
Bay Company in the territory held under the exclusive Licence of Trade,
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and also that it be understood that the said Treaty will not be
considered as giving any pretext to American Citizens to trade with the
Indians for Furs, or other articles.

At the same time I have to remark that, before giving a definite
answer, it would be satisfactory to the Directors to have a Report on
the subject from Sir George Simpson who has visited the North West Coast
of America, and whose opinion on the subject would be extremely
valuable.

I propose to communicate with Sir George Simpson, who is at present
in Canada, by the first opportunity, and would respectfully request that
no steps be taken in the matter until his reply be received, which may
be expected in course of post.