The purpose of the Commission was to determine the amount of compensation, if any, to be paid by the United States to the United Kingdom under Article 18 of the Treaty in return for fishing privileges for Americans in the Atlantic waters off Canada and Newfoundland.
The British government appointed Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt as its representative on the Commission.
The majority, composed of Delfosse and Galt, ruled in favour of the United Kingdom and held that the United States was to pay the British government $5,500,000, in gold, as compensation for American fishing rights in British North American waters.
Foster, the American agent, then registered a formal protest against the non-unanimous award.
The Treaty and the Commission were notable steps in the recognition of Canada as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.