The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-24
The Ftshericss
OUR HALIFAX CORRESPONDENCE.

HALIFAX, August Is, 1852.
ProOtncSdi piew of the Fishery Iroublss--Com
plants against american Fishermex-Nature OF
the Fishery in the Gulf of st. Latmcnce-Em
flovmcnf of British Fnkomem-Nalional Lau
and Reciprocity.
fa judgment can be formed from the tenor of tho
debates in the Senate which have seea, there pre-
walls a general want of information as to the
grounds of complaint that exist in this quarter
against the American fishermen, who annually fire.
quent the coasts of these provinces, to which the
attention Of the Queens government was called
early in the present year by the merchants and
Others engaged in the fisheries and Who suffer- mot
only frsm the direct interference Of the American
fishermen, but also from their bartering away var-
Gus articles-the necessaries of lfe-and obtain in
return fish that have been caught by the provincial
fishermen, and which should have been sent to Ha-
lfax, In payment for supplies furnished there for
their outfit in the spring.
Commissioners were appointed, last year, to in
qure into the nature and extent Of the interference
by American fishermen who reported that great loss
is sustained by their attempts to inure the British
fisheries, to effect which the terms Of the Convention
Of 1918 are continually violated; and that the dis
appointment experienced last year by the latter was
owing to the Americans resorting to the best fishing
grounds in the Gulf st Lawrence, within the limits
prescribed by the treaty and their vessels being of
superior class, and provided with every variety Of
with two and three fares to the United States during
the last summer, while the largest class of pro-
vincal fishing vessels sometimes did not obtain moro
than from twenty-five to fifty barrels Of maokerel
during the entire season.
The number Of American fishing vessels in the
Gulf OF st. Lawrence last year, was estimated at
from one thousand to twelve hundred, and the Ash
with which they returned, and which were inspected
in Massachusetts, alone, was total of 329 27S bar
rels of mackerel, which, with the catch from the
different ports in Maine, was fully adequate to the
demand in the markets of the United States. The
fall fishery, during the months Of September
and October, when the maokerel are in prime srder
in the Gulf and elsewhere, is within from mile to
mile and q half from the shore. Within this dis
lance the American fishermen resort, and after dis
turbiDg the fish, either drift along off the shore,
according as the wind happens to be-. Consequently,
if the Americans are kept beyond three miles, they
must abandon the fishery in the Gulf Of st. Law
renee
they offer great opposition, and threaten to run
them down, for which purpose, their bowsprits
armed with iron, and secured by chain bob-stays,
go, and the crews, in some instances, bring with
They also run into the harbors every night, when
the days shorten, the weather appears threaten
ing, often quarrelling and creating disturbance on
shore, and when the weatheris bad they frequently
dress their fsh there.
A large number of men, from the western parts Of
this province, employed on board these vessels
the protective duty in the United States operating
as an inducement Indeed, il is stated, that it
would be difficult to find an American vessel with
out lnrgc portion of her crew being natives Of
this province, who return home soon after the fishing
season; so that 1t is great mistake to suppose that
the encouragement afforded by duty and bounty, is
merely educating American seamen to fight the
battles Of their country. Besides which, at least
one third OF the masters Of these vessels are Nova
Scotians.
1t is not matter of surprise, therefore, that re-
presentations, such as have been made from this
quarter, should have induced the present ministry
in England to send out feet of small armed yes
sells to aid those Of the province in protecting the
shore fishery.
As to the question whether It's limits extend from
headland to headland, de not pretend to offer an
opinion, conceiving 1t to be one in the absence Of
treaty stipulaons, that must be decided according
to national law and universal usage, to which
neither Of the Senators have adverted but from which
the French and other European fishermen are rigidly
excluded. And although England may waive or
suspend the exercise of any right she possesses she
yields it, unless for corresponding advantage
Nauticaly speaking in either is OF little ina
portance in the present instance, as the right TO
frequent the Gulf of st. Lawrence is only valuable
when connected with that to fish within three miles
Of the shore.
AS to reciprocity, that Is n subject in which
Canada alone Is concerned; for were foreign fish
permitted to enter the ports Of tho United States
free of duty, 1t would not compensate for tho sur
render OF those advantages which tho fishermen Of
this province would enjoy IL the terms of tho con-
yentiOn were strictly cnfofC0d. a.