vention of March 14, 1884, for the
protection of submarine cables, defining the sense of articles 2 and 4
of the said convention.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 7, 1888_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith a communication of 4th instant from the Secretary of
the Interior, submitting, with other papers, a draft of a bill to accept
and ratify an agreement made with the Shoshone and Bannock Indians for
the surrender and relinquishment to the United States of a portion of
the Fort Hall Reservation, in the Territory of Idaho, for the purposes
of a town site, and for the grant of a right of way through said
reservation to the Utah and Northern Railway Company, and for other
purposes.

The matter is presented for the consideration of the Congress.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 20, 1888_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I transmit herewith a report furnished by the Secretary of State in
response to a resolution of the Senate of the 2d instant, making inquiry
respecting the present condition of the _Virginius_ indemnity fund.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 20, 1888_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith and commend to your favorable consideration a report
from the Secretary of State, in relation to an invitation which this
Government has received from the Belgian Government to participate in an
international exhibition of sciences and industry which will open at
Brussels in the month of May next.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 20, 1888_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

In my annual message transmitted to the Congress in December, 1886, it
was stated that negotiations were then pending for the settlement of the
questions growing out of the rights claimed by American fishermen in
British North American waters.

As a result of such negotiations a treaty has been agreed upon between
Her Britannic Majesty and the United States, concluded and signed in
this capital, under my direction and authority, on the 15th of February
instant, and which I now have the honor to submit to the Senate with the
recommendation that it shall receive the consent of that body, as
provided in the Constitution, in order that the ratifications thereof
may be duly exchanged and the treaty be carried into effect.

Shortly after Congress had adjourned in March last, and