Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-07-29
The Fishermen's Trouble.

The difficulty with the American fishermen
rather a serious character. and must, unless
prompt, decisive and energetic action is taken
on the part of our government, lead to disas-
trous as well as unhappy results. One fishing
vessel, the Coral, belonging to Calais. has al
ready been seized for unlawfully fishing in wa
tiers not within the line as established between
this country and England by the treaty of
1918. The difficulty arises wholly from the
construction the New English ministry have
put on that treaty. BY that treaty Americans
were allowed the privilege of taking fish on the
southern coast of Newfoundland, from Cape
Ray to the Rameau Islands, and on the west
ern and northern coast, from Cape Ray to
Quirpon Islands-also on the coasts from
Mount Jolly to the southern coast of Labrador,
10 and from the Straits of Belle Isle. There is
also provision in that treaty that the Ameri-
cans shall not fish in any of these waters with
in three miles of the coast, and not enter any
OF the ports nearer, only in case of distress or
for wood and water. The difficulty is that the
British Government construe this clause SO
as TO mean that the lines must be drawn from
headland to headland, which will exclude our
fishermen from the Bay of St. Lawrence and
other large bays where they have been accus-
toned to fish most successfully. The British
have despatched armed vessels to the fishing
ground to enforce their construction of the
treaty. This will seriously trouble our Maine
fishermen, as they do the best business in the
ster has published letter on the subject from
which we make some extracts. After an
nouncing the fact that armed vessels have
been sent to the Gulf to seize our vessels found
fishing within the waters claimed by them, he
says:
The vessels-or-war mentioned in the above
circular despatch expected to be upon
the coasts of British North America during
the present month, July when, no doubt,
seizures will begin TO be made of American
fishing vessels, which in the autumn pursue
their business intents on the coast from
which il is commended they are excluded by
the convention of 1918.
1t is this construction Of the intent and
meaning of the convention of 1918, for
Which the colonies have contended since
lS4l. and which they have desired should he
enforced.
This the English government has now, il
would appear, consented TO do, and the i'm
mediate effect will be the loss of the valuable
TALL fishing 10 American fisheries, complete
interruption of the extensive business of New
England, attended by constant collision of
the most unpleasant and exciting character,
which may end in The destruction of human
HE, and the Involvement of the government
III a question ola very serious nature, threat
enlng the peace of the TWO countries.
Not agreeing TINT the construction thus
put upon The treaty is conformable to The in
tenilons OF the contracting parties, this i'll
formation is however made public, TO the
end thai those concerned in The American
fisheries may perceive how the case al pres
ent stands, and be upon their guard. The
whole subject will engage the immediate
attention of the government.
The subject has also engrossed the attcn-
ton OF Congress. In the Senate on Friday
last, Mr.. Mason introduced resolution calling
on the President for information on the sub
Ject. AS to the action on the part of our gov
eminent. In the course of his remarks he
said-'the American people will demand of
their Executive that all the force of the home
squadron shall be ordered instantly to protect
American fishermen He further said he
would never consent to any negotiations with
a foreign fleet on our coast Nor would 25,-
600, 900 American people consent to do so.-
lie said he knew what tie Presidents reply to
this resolution of enquiry would be if he did
his duty. 1t would bel have ordered tie
whole naval force into those seas to protect the
rights of American fishermen against British
cannon
MIR. Hamlin agreed to every word uttered by
the chairman of the committee of foreign re-
lat;ons, and was grateful to the senator for hav-
ing introduced the resolution. What the OBJ
Ject OF the British armament sent to the fishing
shores was, he could not say, but that it had
ulterior object was certain. 1t had been whis-
pered that it was connected with certain nego-
tiations with respect to reciprocity trade
with the colonies. If this were SO, it was moth
ing more nor less than to compel the United
States toiesislate under dtpesse, and to this he
for one was unwilling to submit.
Messrs. Cass, Borland, and many other SEN
ators advocated the resolution, and denounced
the course Of the British government, insisting
that no negotiations of any kind should be had
while an armed force was on our coast. We
think the matter will be at once looked up
and speedy measures will be taken to protect
at all hazards, our fishermen. The new Brit
ish ministry must be taught by some means or
other that we cannot be driven to accent their
construction of every treaty, by threats, or by
fear OF the lannon's mouth, and also that we
make no negotiations per force, or while part
OF their navy hover our coast, to interfere
with our hardy fishermen. The treaty has
been construed by both sides from 1918 to
1851, so as to allow our people to fish in the
Bays-too long for us to think of different
construction unless that construction is effect
ed in the usual way of negotiation, not forced
upon us by threats and insults.
Gen. Scott as a Duellist.