The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-11

The proce edings OF the Board of Aldermen are
becoming interesting every meeting Last
evening the tedum of debate was relieved by occa-
sonal sallies Of with and incident of rather
amusing character, which, if we have room, We
shall take the trouble of describing to morrow.
Among the petitions presented was one asking that
the Office Of President of the Cvoton Aqueduct De-
partment be conferred upon the Chief Engineer of
the Fire Department, Mr. Alfred Carson. The doeu-
ment was summarily disposed Of by laying it upon
the table. In the Board of Assistant Aldermen, Mr..
Barker took up the report on the Nineteenth ward
| election, and descanting the evidence, when
| several moved ont and left him without quorum,
| and thus shelved the affair more
| The Fishery Queslion-NOthing Done-Com-
| prshsnsivc Issues Involved IN II.
The fishery question is not yet settled. Not.
withstsnding all the satisfaction manifested in Wall
street at the supposed concessions of the British
ssbinet, the question STANDS IN stotu quo just
where it has stood for the last thirty four years.
The difficulties, from two different constructions Of
the treaty, between Her Maesty's colonies and our
American fishermen, continue the same and the
position Of the British government, In regard to the
bays and barbors Of the fishing grounds is still the
| exclusion of our fishermen, except rs a matter Of
special indulgence. Meantime, the vast increase Of
American fishing smacks in these detachable waters,
and the increasing discomfort and hostility of the
colonists against "the poaching Yankees" call
earnestly not only for plain and definite, but for
| speedy and comprehensive adjustment Of the whole
| question.
What, then, has been the meaning of this late
Goldfish and maokerel panic-this belligerent news
paper discussion both sides of the water-those
mysterious proceedings Of the Derby cabinet the
warlike yronunciamentos of Mr.. Webstcr-the still
more warke debates in the United States Senate
| the movements Of hostile fleets and steamers-the
sudden Joy of the Irsh and the sensation among the
stock obbers, all knocked in the head by the very
general announcement that this fishery question is
| settled! How settled where by whom There
| is no answer.
All this sensation, and agitation, and panic, and
| sudden satisfaction, then, amounts to nothing
| There has been settlement. The question
stands precisely where it stood before the issue of
| Mr.. Webster's bombshell proclamation from Marsh
field. Nothing has been done-nothng conceded,
and fishing vessels are just liable to seizure
| and confscation to day, rs they were six or
twelve months ago.
We have lately receveda variety of information
verbal, epistolary, and acknowledgement this
| question, from which we shall herein undertake
brief and plain statement Of the case, in its various
bearings, and the comprehensive collateral issues
which must necessarily be involved in the general
settlement of the controversy Since 1893, when
there was q correspondence (vesses of war
and ally between the two governments on this fish
ing question: similar to that which now has 30 sud
denly ended in bag Of wind, the British govern
ment, consulting its own commercial interests, and
those of its North American colonies, has tried,
from time to time, to bring our government to a
broad and permanent settlement upon the princi-
pies of reciprocity Sir Henry Bulwer, particularly,
labored with commendabe zeal to secure this great
end; but President Fillmore, decming the subject
Of commercial reciprocites too large for his func-
tions, or involving too much responsibility for
man in his peculiar position, threw the onus upon
Congress, and there it remained. Mr. Webster, be-
lieving that the treaty making power possessed the
needfu jurisdiction in the premises has always been
considered favorable to its exercise He has, how
| ever, been overruled by the President; and thus
while the legislative and executive departments
have been waiting each for the other to take the
initiative, the whole business has remained not only
unsettled, but practically untouched, to the present
day. The startling pronua eiameato from Marsh
field, according to which our fishermen were to be
protected in their rights shook and line, and bob
and sinker," was, doubtless, intended as sort Of
comp detGt by Mr.. Webster, and would rnqueston
ably have had the desired result Of speedy settle.
ment, had President Fillmore followed up the
movement, and &C. operated with Mr.. Webster, in
forcing the British government to terms. But the
President remarkable for his caution on all
differed with Mr.. Webster, officially suppressed his
tba L.
was over
Mr.. Webster took the bold ground that within
three miles from the shore, within as well rs with
ont the bays Of Her Majesty's North American
provinces, eur American fisherman, under the con.
vention Of 1878, were entitled to fish. The right
had been practically conceded down to the recent
alleged movement for the Strengthening Of the line
from headland to headland, q concession which Mr.
Webster pleaded in confirmation Of bis assumption.
But it appears that in this construction Of the
treaty, well in his presumptions Of the inten
tons Of the British government in regard TO the
Boy Of Fundy and other bays, Mr.. Webster was in
Whatever may DO the antiquities Of the treaty
Of 1875 under the general law Of nations, and under
the limitations enforced by our own government We
csnnet claim the right for our fishermen to carry on
their calling in the bays of the British provinces.
British vessels not admitted to the privilege OF
fishing within the waters Of Long Island Sound, or
the Delaware or Chesapeake bays. The shad and
herring, oysters and back ducks, Of the lat
ter bay particularly, would not be overlooked by
British fishermen and sportsmen, had they theright
to enter these waters for such objects. Some yoarS
ago, the colonists Of the Bahama Islands we're in
the habit Of catching turtle within the keys coral
reefs of Florida, beyond the internationally mari
time league Of three miles from the main land. But
the Governor Of Florida laid the ease before the
governmen. at Washington, with an elaborate argu-
ment upon international law. proving that foreign
ers may be properly excluded from fishing within
II 4ha yrafars snr,ort ininx 70 The caunfru