, 1852-10-16
FOR THE " CoLuMniAN."


huc lsHcflcs n gam.
Mn. yom lastpapcr noticed
the misconstruclion, by the present British
government, Of the treaty Of 1918 conccu-
ing the American fisheries, and the conse-
quent action of that government and ours in
relation thereto. The importance Of this
question of f.hmg rights is fully shown Ly
the official notice of the Secretary Of State,
the debates in Congress,the comments Of the
press throughout the country, by the ex-
element it has caused in the fishing towns
of New England, and the petitions Of those
Immediately interested for the protection of
their property and rights. They tell us
there are 21OO vessels, 5000 seamen, and
100000 dollars employed in this branch
Of Naval enterprise. large portion Of
these vessels arc engaged in fishing on these
very territories in dispute, and if driven
from them, inevitable ruin stares them in
the face. Government has wisely fostered
this interest us means Of national defence.
She grants a bounty Of 81 per ton to every
vessel under 90 tons burtheu that shall DO
engaged in the cod fisheries for four success
i've months in each year This bounty was
granted partly as an equivalent for the heavy
duty the fishermen pay upon salt, TO protect
the salt manufacturer, and partly to aid this
nursery for seamcn," whose services have
been, and may again be, invaluable in time
OF war to the government and the country.
The history of the late war with England is
history of the heroic achievements Of many
of these fishermen, both in national vessels
and private armed ships The war sudden
y threw them out of employment, their YES
sells were captured by scores, and driven
from the ocean. Many Of them fitted out
| PHyateers to make war upon the enemy's
mercantile marine-thcy were iC for the
war And while the wealthy ship owners
Of New England were expounding the
constitution " in the Hartford convention,
the poor fishermen of New England were
y pounding Hcir 3" CoNsrIrUrloN amid
the thmders of cannon, in her glorious con-
| llict with the GuerrieT. The fishermen arc
no common sailors who never expect or de-
sire to raise above the forecastle of a ship
They are old men of 10 down 10 boys Of
- years ofagc. Many of them have fami-
lies at home dependent upon their exerlions
for support they arc relations and neigh
bors who live together in the cabin of the
Straits fisherman and the Grand Banker
The old pursue their calling for living:
the young are learning in this school house
of the ocean the first rudiments in seaman-
ship and navigation, and many Of the schol-
ars taught in this school now command the
best and fastest ships that Aoat--ships that
beat the world in passages, land command
even now the English carrying trade from
China TO London.
The fishermen arc, in the streiest and
best sense Of the word, Of the PRODUCING
CLASS, they neither impoyeTish the soil by
over cultivation, nor jostle the laborcr in our
crowded cities: they cause no panic in the
money market by over importing, trading,
or manufacturing. Their products are from
the bottom of the deep-they ride the bill
lows in their small forc-and-afters.
-Four months in the year, many Of them,
right in the track of all the ships and steam
ers to and from Europe and the States, they
cruise, or lay at anchor, in the eternal fog,
Of the banks, liable at any moment to be
run down by a ship Or steamer under full
headway, going perhaps II knots an hour
The ship strikes the deep loaded fisherman,
just feels the concussion-the fisherman goc,
down among the codlings and is never re-
ported. Thus they pursue branch Of in
dustry more porilous than that Of the enter
prising Nantucket whalcmen, which called
forth that splendid oulogum from Edmonl
Burke in the British House of Commons.
Now, the question is, shall this important
branch Of national industry be protected in
their former privileges and rights
The Secretary Of State, Mr.. Webster,
says yes. So says the whole country. Bui
Earl Derby says our rights were but mcr'
temporary concessions on the part Of Eng
land, mere form, liable 10 be Withdrawn
at any moment Now she has sent a fee
of l . sail Of war vessels to capture our fish
| ermen and drive them away from fishing
grounds which they have occupied undis
turbed for 80 years. OF course our govern
mcnt must send their naval forces TO pro
tect the fishermen in their rights, according
TO our understanding Of the treaty. WhJ
will be the probable result of all this B.? A
war Probably not but negotiations VII
commence, and when another treaty shall bl
consummated, let our rights OF fishing
grounds on the Pacific coast be guarantee
in as simple and plain terms as words ca
make them. This and the importance d
the fisheries on the Pacific coast, propoS
10 examine hereafter.
ALERToN.