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Previous to the Revolution fishermen of the American colonies had free access to the fishing grounds of Labrador, Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Subsequently to the war this privilege was protested against by the inhabitants of the Canadas. The question was long debated. Finally a compromise was effected in the Treaty of Paris, September 3, 1783. United States fishermen were allowed access to the fishing grounds of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, the St. Lawrence and the Magdalen Islands, on an equal footing with British fishermen, in such parts as were unsettled or where permission could be obtained from the settlers. The War of 1812 did away with this treaty, the fishery right was denied the United States and Canadian Governors were instructed to exclude our fishermen. A commission of the two countries decided in 1818 that the United States should forever have the right to fish on the western and northern coast of Newfoundland and the Magdalens only. Reciprocal trade being established between the United States and Canada by the Treaty of 1847, fishing was allowed the former in all British colonies except Newfoundland, which refused consent. This treaty was terminated in 1866 by the United States and the conditions of 1818 were revived. By the Treaty of Washington in 1871, the United States fishermen were allowed to take fish of any description, except shell-fish, in all Canadian waters, the British fishermen to have the same privileges in United States waters north of latitude 390 north.