Eastern times., 1853-04-07
EASTERN TIMES.
THE FISHERIES.

the general appropriation bill being under
consideration, Mr.. Davis Of Massachusetts
moved TO amend the bill by adding the fol-
lowing;
And be it further enacted, Tha; whenever
the President of the United States shall re-
ceive satisfactory evidence that the fishermen
and fishing vessels of the United States are
admitted to the common rights and prlvlieg-
es of British subjects resident in the British
North American Provinces of Canada, New
Bruins wick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Is
land, and Newfoundland, TO fish in the wa
tiers thereof, together with the right upon
water and land, of curing and preparing for
market, aud selling there, the fish so taken
and the oil herefrom, then he shall issue his
proclamation authorizing the fishermen res
ident in any of said Provinces, and the fish
ing vessels thereto belonging, to enjoy like
privileges ia the waters of The United States,
together with the privilege 10 such vessels
and fishermen to enter into the ports OF entry
OF the United States, and 10 make sale of the
fish taken in any OF the waters aforesaid, or
che oil made theretrom, upon paymen; of
the same duties which are or shall be exact
ed by law of fishing vessels of the United
States Provided, That nothing herein con.
tanned shall authorize fishing vessels of one
Of the countries aforesaid TO participate in
the river fisheries of the other; nor shall
anything herein contained Authorize any in
reference with private rights of fishery, or
private rights of property, without agree-
ment.
MIR. DAVIS said: / wish 10 say 10 the
Senate that this embraces a proposition 10
Great Britain in regard to the fisheries. Ii
is designed to settle that veXed and trouble
some question which has been in negotia-
iion and has not been brought to an issue.
1t is a perfectly reciprocal proposition au-
thoriZing the President of the United States,
whenever he shall receive information that
the fishermen and fishing vessels Of the Uni.
ted States are admitted to the same privileges
in The waters of those five North American
Provinces as the vessels and fishermen resi-
dent there, then ne may admit them TO The
same privileges in any OF the waters of the
United States, and that the markets of the
two countries shall be open TO each other the
same as they are 10 their own citizens. And
now L wish 10 say 10 gentlemen that this is
graver question than perhaps many sup
pose | wish TO say, and 10 say II in all SIN
CERTIFY that IL there is a re-enactment OF the
events this coming season which occurred
last year, fear there is not patience suffi>
cient to bear them. | think know sOme-
thing Of these fishermen, aud | certainly be-
iieve they are men of resolution, of fortlIude,
who believe they understand their rights, and
will ii necessary, vindicate them. And now,
sir, tell you there will be a collision there,
unless there are some measures taken 10 adj
Just the controversy. The fishermen will
go prepared for such all event; aud l will
venture to predict that the month of Septenn-
Der will not pass without a conflict and COLI
sion, unless the question is in train of ad-
justment, or ths English iorbear TO exercise
petty, vexatious, and irritating supervision.
This is simply proposition OF entire recIp-
locily upon this question alone.
Mr.. MALLORY of Florida. opposed this
proposition, and entered two objections: the
first, that il would interfere with the rights ol
the SIates-the jurisdiction, in other words,
over the water of the United States. The
second objection MIR. M. made 10 these
words;
The Bahama Islands Of New Providence,
EIenthera, Green Turtle Key, Abaco and
others, are peoplec principally by the ignO-
rant. idle acd vicious British emaucipees,
MANY of them native Africans, who have
completely the control OF the white inhab-
tauts who are coming 10 South Florida in
great numbers.
These islands are from one to two days'
sail from the shor of Florida, aud the slaves
of the Florida planters, who are compelled
70 use boats Tor plantation purposes, have
been frequently entced away by the British
free negroes who visited oar ports as seamen
of Bahama vessels, these vessels being usual
iy manned by free negroes.
This evil became so intolerable that in
lS4S the British government was notified
that the act of Congress OF 2Sth OF February,
a. L.. A.
free negroes, whether composing the crews
of vessels or not, into he ports of States cou-
trary to the laws of such States, would be
strictly enforced.
la 1916 seven negroes murdered the light
house keeper at Cape Florida, and fed 10
Nassau, New Providence, in an open boat.
The government of the United States sent
specially a revenue cutter TO Nassau, with
the United States marshal of South Florida,
20 demand the murderers. A copy of the in
diclment found against them was presented
10 the British authorities, and Witnesses ac-
companied the marshal who identified them.
But of course they were not surrendered;
and the officers of the United States were
publicly threatened and insuIled by the free
negro population.
This population is rapidly increasing, and
will at no distant day become burden upon
the British Treasury; and hence the effort
made by the British government TO obtain
for them participation n the Florida fish
cries, and consequently in the trade which
they Sustain.
am aware that my friend from Massachu-
sells will reply that The provisions of this
bill extend only TO the vessels OF the British
North American provinces, and exclude
those of The Bahamas. But, sir, every Sena-
tor a; all familiar with the commercial laws
and usages OF our cOuntry-and ours are
borrowed from Great Britain-must see at a
glance that these provisions furnish not the
slightest guard against the employment of
Bahama vessels and Bahama free negroes.
not only within the bays and harbors, bur
upon the shores of Florida.
The process by which a Bahama vessel
and crew would become New Brunswick
or Nova Scotia vessel and crew is no myste.
nv, for i, is in daily operation around US.
Pass this bill, and this will be the result
A Bahama owner, a merchant perhaps of
Nassau, desirous of engaging in the Florida
fisheries for the Cuban market, would at once
transfer the title Of his vessel 10 British
resident of New Brunswick, by the ordinary
bill of sale. The character of the vessel IS
governed by the residence of the owner, and
without leaving the port Of Nassau register
is sent out by the new owner and the Mary
of Nassau becomes the Mary Of 81. Johns,
and comes at once within the provisions OF