The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-07-30
(From the N. York Express.)
THE AMERICAN FISHERIES.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

i DEPARMENT OF STATE,
! WASHINGTON, July b.
! Information of an official character has been
received at this Department to the. following
effect:
| The late Ministry of England was opposed
| to the granting Of bounties on principle, and
in consequence it steadily refused to give the
necessary assent to the acts of the Colonial
Legislature granting bOunties to the fisheries.
The colonies complained severally Of this
interference with their local affairs, and they
further complain that the Government decline
to enforce the provisions of the Fishery COnven-
ton of 1918, and thereby permitted American
fishermen to encroach upon the best fishing
grounds, from which, under the legal construc-
tion OF the treaty, they ought to be excluded.
With the recent change Of Ministry in Eng
land has occurred an entire change Of policy. |
The present Secretary Of State for the Colon
les Sir John PackingtOn, has addressed cir
Cular letter to the Governors OF the several
North American Colonies, an extract from
which is as follows:
Downing Street, May %, 1882
Amoug the many pressing subjects which
have engaged the attention Of her MaJestys
/ ministers since their assumption Of office, few
have been more important in their estimation
than the questions relating to the protection
solicited for the fisheries OF the coast of Brit
ish North America. Her Maiesty's Govern
ment has taken into their serious cOnsidera-
ton sthe presentations on this important sub
iect. contained in your dispatches noted in the
| margin. and have not failed to observe. that
whilst active measures have been taken by GER
tain colonies, for the purpose Of encouraging
their fisheries, and of repelling the intrusion
of foreign vessels it has been a subject Of com
plant that impediments should have been Of
fered by the policy Of the Imperial Govern
ment to the enactment of boundaries cOnsid-
cred by the local legislatures essential for the
protection OF this trade Her Majesty min.
c isters are desirOus Of removing all grounds o.
l. complaint on the part of the colonies, in con
= sequence Of encouragement of the fishing yes
e sells of the United States upon waters from
a which they are excluded by the terms Of the
n Convention of 1878 and they therefore intend
+ to dispatch, as soon as possible. small naval
force of steamers or other small vessels, to en-
a force the observance OF that convention.
This announcement is accompanied by the
following as to bOunties.
With regardtO the question of promoting the
fisheries Of the British Colonies by the meani
of bounties Her Majesty Government, though
desIrOus to sanction any unnecessary deviation
from the policy which regulates the commerce
of this country, are still disinclined to prevent
! these Colonies, by interpostiOn of imperial au
:, thority, and especially pending the negotia
ton with the United States Of America for tn
} settlement Of the principles on which the com
e merce of the British North American ColOnie
is hereafter to be carried on, from adopting tn
ct policy which they may deem most condHciv
to their own interests and welfare.
Sc Meantime, and within the last ten days, a
American fishing vessel called the Coral, be
longing to Machias, Me, has been seized in tn
in Bay of Fundy, near Grand Menan, by the of
a Ger commanding Her Majesty cutter Netley
~ already arrived in that bay, for an alleged in
Y fraction of the fishing convention and tn
~ fishing vessel has been carried to the port o
St. John n. B. where proceedings have beel
Id taken, in the Admiralty Court, with a view b
" her condemnation and absolute forfeiture
le Besides the small naval force to be sent ont BY
4 the Government the Colonies are .bestirinl
" themselves also for the protection of their fish
. cries.
l9 Canada has fitted out an armed vessel to be
u stationed in the Gulf, and this vessel has pro-
IS ceeded to the fishing spot having on board
not only naval commander and crew, with
G power to seize vessels within limits, also sti-
! pendary magistrate and civil police to make
prisoners of all who are found transgressing
the laws of Canada, in order TO their being
: committed to Jail in that colony for trial. The
colony of Newfoundland has fitted out an arm
ed vessel for the purpose of resisting the en-
crOachments of French fishing vessels on the
coast of Labrador, but when ready TO sail from
her port the Governor Of that colony, acting
under imperial instructions, refused to give the
3, commander Of the colonial vessel the necessary
authority for making prizes Of French vessels
D found trespassing. This is an extraordinary
+ circumstance, especially when taken in con-
nection with the fact that the like authority
u to seize American fishing vessels under sim.
liar circumstances has never been refused tt
=, the cruizers Of any Of the North America
J Colonies The colony of Nova Scotia has nov
IA fnur cd epuiyara Wpll unanual Zee
ready to pOunce upon any American vessel
which may accidentally or otherwise be founG
20 fishing within the limits defined by the Grown
3, officers Of England. New Brunswick ha
h agreed with Canada and Nova Scotia to plac
m cutter in the Bay of Fundy to look afte
er Americans fishinging there and at Prince Ed
NJ ward Island, and her Maiesty's steam frigat
a93 Devastation has been placed under the instruc
~ tions Of the Governor of that colony The frs
article Of the convention between the Unite
ID States and Great Britain, Of the 10Th Of Octo
Der, 1918, is in these words: Whereas diff
Id ferenees have arisen respecting the libert
m claimed by the United States for the inhabi
s. tants thereof to take, dry, and cure fish o
certain coasts bays, harbors, and creeks of Hi
q Britannia Majesty S dominion in America
The vessels of war mentioned in the aboy
circular dispatch are expected to be on tn
coasts of British North America during th
'e present month of July, when, no doubt, sei2
N ures will begin to be made of American fish
ID ing vessels which in the Autumn pursue the
business intents on the coast from which it
N contended they are excluded by the cOnventiO
Is of 1878.
!" It is this construction of the intent an
A meaning of the convention Of 1913, for whic
e the Colonies have contended since lS4l, an
= which they have desired should be enforced.
p This the English Government has now,
e would appear, consented to do, and the imme
diate effect will be the loss of the valuable Fal
8 fishing TO American fisheries, complete In
terruption Of the extensive business Of Me-