The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-12

rs momenteous concern. II forms a nursery for
seamen, and this will be the source from which we
are to derive maritime importance" The causes of
the evident decrease in this important interest and
the means Of arrestng it, deserves the serious consi
aerati0n Of American statesmen.
The FIRST cause which the committee will refer to,
the diversion Of labor and capital, formerly employ
cd exclusively in this enterprise to certain branches
Of small manufactures. This diversion has taken
place particularly in the older towns of New Eng
and. The fishermen employed only during the mild
season, were left wholly without employment in the
winter months, as the vessels were then almost in
variably laid up. Frequently the whole amount due
them was advanced upon their fares. 30 that they
and their families were often exposed to severe want
not the benevolence, Of the capitalists engaged in
The business, a scheme was devised for employing
the idle hands. The unemployed fishermen were
gradually induced to enter during the winter into
the prosecution Of Of the various branches Of
mechanical industry which were easily acquired, re-
turning in the summer months to the fishing
grounds.
The superior attractions of the new and less preca-
rous employment, in many cases, have finally caused
the total abandonment Of the fishing business both
by the capitalists and the operatives. In towns
Beverly for instance, which sent forth annually
large fleet to the Banks, there is not single regis
tered vessel in the cod fishery, although the macke
rel fishery is still prosecuted. There appears to be
le decline in the fishing business in districts where
these branches Of manufacture have made but little
progress, and where the material for ship building is
cheaper. The tonnage Of the State Of Maine, en-
ployed in the cod fishery is nearly equal to the whole
tonnage Of all other States employed in that fishery
A second cause Of the decline OF the American
sheres 10 the competition OF colonial fish in own
and foreign markets, in consequence of the legsla
ton Of l846 legislation which conferred large
benefit upon the colonial fisheries without single
equivalent to our own: The reduction Of duties from
specific rates to uniform ad valore,n rate Of 20 per
cent on the foreign cost Of imported fish, has caused
. large importation Of colonial fish for own con-
sumption. The whole amount imported from the
to ls46 the importations were too triaing to be
noticed. Previous to lS46 no drawback was
allowed on foreign dried or picked fish
but. by the warehousing act Of that year,
entered in bond, and exported from American
the statement Of Mr.. Welman Deputy Collec-
tor Of Boston, in relation to the fisheries Of Massa-
appears that in ls4s foreign dry fish were exported
from any part of the United States, and only one
hundred and three barrels of picked fish, In lS47,
$4,000 quintals Of dry fish and 1900 barrels of
picked fish were exported From l847 to 1851, there
exported from the port Of Boston alone, 1886
quintals and 1854 barrels Of picked fish, which
were entered under the provisions OF the warehous
ing law, and paid no duties. The value Of the whole
export Of foreign fish, nearly all supposed to be
lonial, for the year 1852, was $207, 348.
The value OF the whole export of American fish
for the same year was $453,0l0. The decline APP
pears extraordinary when it is remembered that the
eeeded 81, 400, COO.
The views before presented as to the effect of the
wareh0using law in encouraging the competition Of
Canadian wheat, apply to colonial fish, BY that law
for competing with our own in the foreign market,
which regulates the price; SO that it may be said
that American fish virtually have no protection under
the present system.
rte committee have high authority for asserting
that those interested in the American fisheries would
be willing that the duty on fish should be wholly
abolished if they could obtain all the privileges en-
joyed By British subjects on the fishing grounds.
The third and principal cause Of the decline in the
American fisheries is, that In consequence Of treaty
stipulations with Great Britain, Americans are OK
eluded from the best fishing grounds and deprived
Of other privileges and convenences essential to the
successful prosecution of any branch Of the fishing
business, all which advantages they enjoyed in the
period Of their greatest prosperity.
By the third article Of the treaty Of peace between
the United States and Great Britain in l7s3, it was
States shall continue to enjoy, unmolested the right
TO take fish Of any kind on the Grand Bank, and on
all other banks Of Newfoundland; also, in the Gulf
Of st. Lawrence, and at all other places in the sea
time to fish; that the inhabitants of the United
States shall have liberty to take fish Of any kind on
such part Of the coast OF Newfoundland q the British
shall use lbut not to cure and dry them on the
6land), and also the coasts, bays and creeks Of
all other Of his Britannia Maestys dominion in
America; and that the American fishermen shall
have liberty to dry and cure fish in any Of the un-
settled bays, harbors and creeks Of Nova Scotia,
Nagdalen Islands, and Labrador so long as the same
shall remain unsettled, but 30 soon as the same or
either Of them shall be settled it shall not be lawful
for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such set
tement, without previous agreement for that pur-
pose with the inhabitants proprietors or possessors
Of the grounds"
It win be seen that by the provisions Of this treaty
The Americans secured the important privileges OF
the shore fishing II was while we enjoyed these
uriyileQee that fisheries attained their highest
prosperity.
The British government regarded these privileges
e forfeited by the war Of 1872. BY the Convention
United States shall have forever in common with the
subjects Of his Britannia Majesty, liberty to
take fish Of every kind on that part Of the
from Cape Ray to the Rameau Islands; on the
western and northern coast Of Newfoundland,
from the eaid Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands;
on the shores Of the Nagdalen Islands, and also on
Jolly on the southern coast of Labrador and through
the Straits Of Belle lse and thence northwardy in
definitely along the coast, without prejudice, how
ever to any Of the exclusive rights OF the Hudson
Bay Company, and that the American fishermen
ahal also have the liberty forever to dry and cure
fish in any of the unsettled bays harbors and creeks
Of the southern part Of the coast Of Newfoundland
here above described and Of the coast OF Labrador
be settled it shall not be lawful for the said fisher
men to dry cure fish at such portion so settled,
without previous agreement for such purpose with
the inhabitants, proprietors, or possessors Of the
ground. And the United States hereby renownce for
any liberty heretofore enjoyed or claimed by the
;~hab,tanis thereof to take, dry, or cure fish on or
,chir three marine miles of any Of the COASTS, bays,
creeks or harbors Of his Bfitannie M4lesty's doai-
niens IN america not included cithin The aboremea.
tioNsd limits, provided, however that the American
fishermen shall be admitted to enter such bays or
harbors for the purpose Of shelter and repairing da-
images therein, Of purchasing wood and OF obtaining
whatever. thew
shall be under such restrictions as may be necessary
10 prevent their taking, drying, curing fish there
in or in any other manner whatever abusing the
privileges hereby reserved to them.'
The construction lately given to this treaty by the
are to be measured from the headlands or extreme
points of land of the coast and not from the interior
OF the bays or indents of the coast It is not neces
sary here for the committee to enter into any discus
sion to show upon what slight and narrow grounds