The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-29

TIE Hashsry = sessasn-WAsn = M % -
ostsasas
We have ~ .ason TO believe the fishery ques-
ton between this country and England, is as
FAR on from being adjusted as ever This
arises from no indisposition on the part Of either
government to have the matter settled, but
simply from the fact that the demands of Eng
hand are considered by our government as un-
reasonable nd unsatisfactory.
England it is understood. pertinaciously ad-
heres to Fer "headland" construction. claiming
1t under the opinion of her law officers of the
crown, given several years ago. In order to
abandon that construction and permit our
hshe rmen to frequent her waters within three
mil es Of the shore, following the indentations
OF the coast, irrespective of ''headlands," she
asks not only that the duty on fish brought
into this country in foreign vessels shall be
, abrogated. but also that her colonial built
vessels shall be permitted to obtain American
registers On our side, it is commended that the
headland construction is not based upon either
the letter or spirit of the treaty of 1918. Al
though the British law officers Of the crown
the term headlands.' yet, upon turning to the
treaty itself. no such word as headland is found
in that instrument. To take, therefore, as
basis of negotiation, an opinion so ridiculous as
the one in question, is, on its face, clearly in
admissible on the part of our government; and
hence. at the outset, difficulty of no little
magnitude is experienced
Ac n 4ba crococ;%;or @o,:xo oo1on;ol l,;l%
vessels American registers it is open to great
many objections. in the present condition Of our
revenue laws. The existing tariff places large
duty on iron, cordage, and most Of the articles
entering into the material of shipbuilding. To
allow colonial built vessels to obtain American
registers would be to give their shipbuilders
a premium over ours Of the amount of duty
charged at our custom houses on the articles
specified. Surprising. therefore. everything else
to be equal, this fact alone would render such
measure an act of gross injustice to our build
ers.
Before any such arrangement can be made,
it will be necessary to modify the tariff SO as
to admit all articles used in the construction Of
ships into our market free of duty. When that
is done there will be no difficulty in the way Of
admitting colonial vessels into competition
with American built vessels.
The proposition of England as to colonial
vessels obtaining American registers, is reci
procal, as far as the colonies are concerned,
and no further. Of course, whenever such an
arrangement is made, we will insist upon its
extending also to England, permitting Anne
rican vessels to obtain registers there also.
Whatever treaty may be made will require
not only the ratification of the Senate, but also
the action of Congress in order to repeal and
modify existing laws. We confess we see at
present little prospect of any convention being
arrived at unless England greatly modifies her
pretensiOns. Meantime in addition to the Bri-
fish feet on the fishing grounds we have quite
an American force also. 1t is not very clear
what particular duty our vessels will be en-
gagged in-though we are told they have gone
there for the protection of American interests.
As we have already permitted England to put
in force her headland construction and as we
have acknowledged it proper subject of nego-
tiation. it is certain that pending such nego-
tiation Admiral Seymour will continue to pre-
vent our fishermen from pursuing their avoca-
tions inside of the headlands-and that is all he
has ever attempted. Our fleet will therefore
have the exceedingly laborious. not to say ha-
zardous, duty of preventing Admiral Seymour
from doing that which be never has attempted
nor has any idea Of attempting, namely-an
interference with our fishermen outside of the
headlaud line What a farce