, 1852-10-02
John BnII and tne Fi.herle..


Quite belllgerent cloud is now visible in
the east, lowering over the Newfoundland
fishing grounds, caused by the recent inter-
probation Of the several treaties between
England and the United States, concerning
the fisheries. II seems that BY the treaty
of 1888, We could TAKE fish anywhere on
the British American coast, except such
ports, as by treaty We're allotted to France;
and we could DRY and CURE them, on the
unsettled parts of Nova Scotia, Labrador,
&c, &c. when that treaty was made, the
British commissioners were willing 10 grant
LIBERTY to fish in certain places. The
American commissioners, contended for the
RIGHT to fish in these places; they carried
their point, and we enjoyed the right until
the war Of 1912. At the treaty of Ghent
the British commissioners commended that
our former privileges were destroyed by the
war; our commissioners, on the other hand,
were instructed not even to listen 10 propo-
stions for surrendering the fisheries; but
nevertheless, as Mr.. ]. Q. Adams declared,
the English argument that our fishing priv
ileges were destroyed by the war, ''was pre-
sented in every form that ingenuity could
devise, it was the first stumbling block, and
the last obstacle to the conclusion Of the
treaty" Our commissioners met their op-
ponents with the declaration that the trea-
ty Of 1888, was a PERPETUAL eRANr-"of
the nature of deed "-and the same arCu-
ment that would deprive us of our fisheTies'
by reason Of war, would also deprive us Of
the soil acquired of England by our inde-
pendence, and The treaty of 1888.
The British ministers did not, because
they could not answer these arguments in
1914, and so the whole matter closed but
in lSl5-16, several depredations were COM
mitted on our fishermen by British armed
vessels, which were, however, promptly dis
avowed by the British government; but
they provoked discussion, which ended in
another treaty in 1918, which treaty is still
in force, and by tive were confirmed in the
right to take fish WITHIN THREE MILES
OF THE ENTRANCE OF ANY BAY
ON THE COAST OF NOVA SCOTIA
OR NEW BRUNSWICK, except the Bay
of Fundy, which we were still to be PER-
MTTRD to frequent as before as matter Of
favor.
The construction of both governments has
Deen, tnat all the waters, bays, &c., were
open to our vessels, but we could not TAKE,
CURE or DRY fish, within three marine miles
Of any of the British coasts. Our fisher
men have ever acted on this construction Of
he treaty, unmolested by the British gov
and for the simple reason thai un-
Ill now, both governments placed the same
construction upon the treaty. Il is trps
hat New Brunswick and Nova Scc.is-1 ~
'ften importuned the home goyFnnJ,l .A' "a ~
exclude US from the Bays crs,ns oS hoaJ- I
ChaleauT, andto conine Word S,snlev him,
and and headland iho British colonies, @
'ell, ell the M SrscretarDerby, and Prime Minis
~ NJ" W 'IS IFSEa.id,) refused the exercise of any
~ oat ~ < as prayed for, and informed them
~" u mad been announced 10 the American
H'ernment, that they would henceforward
'e allowed TO fish in the Bay of Fundy,
within three miles of the ENTRANCE Of any
'ay on the coast of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick; and ever since this declaration
We have enjoyed the same uninterrupted
ights as before.