Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-06
THE FISHERY NEGOTIATION.

in the circle Of our foreign relations ct present to
occupy any great share Of 4epublic attention, save
the important one Of our shing privileges on the
coasts Of the British No4h American provinces,
and the various schemes which have been proposed
by the negotiators for settling present difficulties
This subject has been g1wing in magnitude for
some time past, and the piblic is naturally anxious
to be correctly advised ID regard to it. To meet
that desire the part Of ur readers we lay before
them whatever appears T. US to be reliable in re-
gard to it, in the absence of official information,
which it cannot be expected Of the Government to
give. 1t is for the purppse therefore, of keeping
our readers posted up as well as We can on matter
Of so much interest that we insert the subjoined
letter, which we find in the New York Express
The writer is evidently very intelligent and from
the particularly Of bis exposition we infer that he
is as well acquainted with the present phase of the
negotiation as he Obviously is with its early history
The letter is dated the 18th ultmo, at Washington.
The prospect, understand is By no means fattering
for early satisfactory settlement Of the fishery
question indeed, it hardly be otherwise under what
is understood to be the British demands connected with
the subject Whether these inadmissible demands on
principle Of asking in order obtain less whether
her statesmen finding the high Importance attached in
this country these fisheries, and the general and great
nterest the question has excited throughouiih0 country
really adopted the belief that they drive hard
bargain with the United States and the Admin
tration into scQuiescence with their present preten
sons, cannot say; but they certainly very badly
"posted up to the feeling Of the American people
and, should hope, also Of the present Administration
if such an impression rests upon their minds
Judging from the former tone and language Of the Bri-
tish Colonial Press s views extended no further than
the exacon Of reciprocity of trade between the United
States and the British Provinces in return for admitting
American vessels to full participation in their
fisheries. Such terms could have been and be OBJ
tanned provided the conditions made mutually libe
raj and advantageous, and not onesided affair at
first proposed by the British authorities to Mr. Fmores
administration by which the productions to be admitted
free Of duty would be principally those which the Pro-
vnces could supply reasonable terms, whilst
those which the United States could and would furnish If
the provincial duties we're abolished not 10 to be
admitted on the free list into the British possessions
The late Administration would willingly have entered
into arrangement for the free admission both sides
of all articles the growth produce, manufacture Of
either the United States the Colonies, excluding from
the free list oil articles OF European other foreign pro-
ducton. But this plan Of free trade did net suit John
Ball. who wished to designate the articles which should
be admitted free Of duty By excluding among others a
manufactures Of the United States the plea that they
had manufactures worthy of note il the Colonies It
was game of heads ra, tails you iose, which John
is 50 fond Of playing when opportunity presents.
But even these views unreasonable as they we're, are
sufficient satisfy him at present; and though an
prepared to assert that all Of his demands are
made positive que in the settlement Of the
fishery question: they certainly put forward in con-
nexion with it, and strongly urged TO be embraced in the
general arrangement Of all the open commercial questions
between the two countries
These demands are as follows, viz
lst The admission Of British built vessels to the pryi
lege Of American register.
ID The free admission Of the British flag the coast
ing trade between the American Atlantic and Pacific
ports.
3D. The abolition present boaaSies to ths Ame-
4th further modification Of our tariof course with
view to favor British interests And
9Th. The original demand Of reciprocity Of trade with
the North American colonies.
Now, not these moderate and modest What pros
pect do you think there is that Congress win accede to
them for you will perceive that every Of the items
would require the legislative action CT the two Houses
before any treaty stpuatons Of the kind could 90 into
effect To grant them would be in direct AMI obvious
opposition to the interests Of our agrcslturiss
facturers, ship-owners, and our fishermen
Few persons besides practical business can pro-
pery appreciate the value Of the Pacific cossng trade
our tonnage interest. directly and coaeray The ton
mage employed in this trade receives higher rate Of
compensation than in any other reightng business, and
the clipper and other ships employed in H. after landing
their cargoes in CALIFORNIA; proceed the Pacific
to the Chinese and other ports Of India and can afford
take freghts from thence favorable terms than
any other vessels the large reghts they make TO Ca
fornia puts them velvet regards the remainder
Of the voyage for this heavy compensation is than
sufficient pay all the expenses for the entire trip round
the globe and ali the additional freight they receive for
bringing cargo Of teas the United States is therefore
clear profit Under present commercial arrangements
with Great Britain her ships bring from China
into the United States the terms as American
vessel but with the above advantages possessed by the
latter il is utterly hopeless for British vessels to attempt
to do 50 any thing like footing ofequay. Not only
is this result produced regards the China trade to the
United States, but the is rapidly throwing
int the hands Of American ship-ovners the carrying
trade from China to Europe, and a few years win see
nearly the whole Of that trade as well az considerable
portion Of that from the British India possessions to Great
Britain under the American Gag How can il be other
WISE when the British and other European vessels have
proceed the ports Of the Cape Of Good Hope
either in Ballast with small portions Of cargo and the
whole expense Of the entire voyage must be borne by the
return fregb whilst American vessels with which they
into competition in the Chinese and other Eastern
ports have already made cosstlng freight to California
which has provided for all their outlay including wear
snd tear interest and insurance for the whole voyage!