Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-08-11
rhe -Fisheries Question.

manner TO indicate at last that the mead
quarters of the administration are still at
Washington. The National lntelllgencer
of Yesterday, in the course OF leading
article ON the subject, the tendency OF
which is to Justify the British Government
in claims it makes and-the measures 1t
has taken. has the following undoubtedly
official statement as to the notice given by
the British Ministry Of its proposed pro-
ceedings in this case:
+" Nor has the present proceedings by
the British authorities been so sudden, or
so entirely without notice, as seems to be
supposed. We are informed upon the
best authority, that about the 7th of this
month, the minister of Great Britain noti-
fed our government that measures had
been adopted by the British government
to prevent the repetition of the complaints
which had heen so frequently made of the
encroachments of vessels belonging to ci-
liens of the United States and of France
upon the fishing grounds reserved to
Great Britain by the Convention OF 1873;
that urgent representations had been adj
dressed to the government of Great Britain
by the governors of the British North
American provinces in regard to those
encroachments, to the effect that the col
onial fisheries were most seriously preju-
diced and that directions had been given
by the Lords of the Admiralty for sta
tioning off New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edwards Island, and in the Gulf
of st. Lawrence, such force of small
sailing vessels and steamers as should be
deemed sufficient to prevent further infrac-
lions of the treaty.
"Ths minister of Great Britain at the
same time also informed our government
that it was the command of his govern
ment that the officers employed. upon this
service should be especially enjoined to
avoid all interference with vessels of friend
ly powers, except when-they were in the
act of violating existing treaties, and on
all occasions to avoid giving ground of
complaint by the adoption of harsh or un-
necessary proceedings where circumstan-
ces compelled the arrest or seizure of such
vessels.
1--WE have reason to believe that orders
have been given for sending into those
regions one of our best vessels, comman-
ded by one the most experienced naval
officers, as well for the protection of our
seamen against any molestation that may
be attempted contrary to existing treaties
AS to enquire into any abuses that may
have grown upon either side, and TO in
form our fishermen of their rights, and
warn them against any attempt at inYa-
sion of the rights of others
In this connection VIC find the follow
ing statement in the editorial columns of
the New York Express of Tuesday, by
| SOL, hot tHun naH
American vessels have been ordered to
the fishing, grounds:
" Our Boston correspondent last evening
telegraphed us that the United States
steam-frigatc Saranac, at Philadelphia
and the sloop- Albany, at Boston,
have positively been ordered to the bay
of the ST. Lawrence for the protection OF
American seamen, noncompliance with the
request of Commodore J. C. Long, who
is appointed to the command.
"The owners of fishing vessels at New
buryport, we are also informed, have de-
pu;ed two of their number to wait upon the
Commodore Immediately, to inform and
advise him as TO the nature and position
of the fishing grounds, and all matters
pertaining thereto.
Captain George w. Knight and Cap
tain Robert Bayley. jr., who are every
way qualified to furnish full information
have accordingly been delegated to con.
fer with Commodore Long, and they will
meet him to-day.
"This is important intelligence, and we
have no doubt it is true. The squadron,
we presume, will sail Immediately (; and
should the British heeS continue their
captures and confscations, We may ere
long hear Of some exciting events in those
waters.
"We have, from another correspondent
some further particulars concerning the
capture of the Lubec schooner by a Bril-
fish steamer, to which reference has hith-
erto been made:
"BosToN, July 26th.
AL learn from the eastward, that the
Lubec fishing schooner lately seized by
the English steamer Eetlcy, and carried
into st. John, n. B., was at the time OF
her seizure, off Grand Menan. The cap
tain of the seized vessel states, that he
ran in for bait, while the English say he
was fishing there. The case will be tried
in the Admiralty court at St. Johns.
"' There are large numbers of fishing
vessels ready to sail from the sea-coast
"O"uS near ueIeS dS SOou as assured
that they will be protected from seizure"
No intimation is given that either of
the American armed ships, said to be or
dered to the fishing grounds with view
to the protection of our rights, has yet
proceeded on that service. The delay is
the more remarkable, if. as stated by the
IhteLtigencer, our government had notice
OF the English movement nearly a month
ago. Washington Union.