The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-02
The Fleets in the Fishing Grounds.

Two rather powerful and warlike fleets, be-
longing to England and the United States
respectively, have assembled in the fishing
grounds, near the eastern coast Of Maine
within the last month or two. The ostensible
and real object of both the British and the
American fleet is the same-with only different
application in each case, viz. to see that the
rights of the citizens OF both powers are re-
speoted and that IN neither case Is there any
intraCtion thereof by the other. The preteXt
or the necessity for their appearance is found in
an incident arising from our abrogation OF the
Reciprocity Treaty, which restricts the rance of
American fishermen, and in the danger which
consequently springs from their being de-
barred privilege which they have long
enjoyed. Prior to the establishment of the
Reciprocity Treaty there we're always dis
putes about the rights of our fishermen
in these waters; but that treaty enlarged them
to the utmost limits OF our desire. Now that
they are again restricted, 1t is harder even than
1t was before tor our fishermen TO endure it, tor
they have both experienced the pleasure OF un-
restrained freedom, and been able TO measure
its intrinsic profit in this particular matter.
They are very apt, therefore, in this time of
annoyance and loss, to go be Sond what are now
considered their legal and legitimate rights, and
trespass upon what is now the exclusive posses.
sion OF Others. And the British or provincial
fishermen, who now lind themselves in the en-
joymenC of special and valuable privilege, are
very apt, in their eagerness to guard against its
infringement, to be hasty and overbearlng, and
go beyond even themselves.
IL is the duty of the American navy to pre-
vent our citizens passing beyond the bounds to
which our Government has agreed, and it is the
duty of the British fleet to guard what are
claimed as exclusively British rights. And
again, it Is the duty OF the British navy to check
any uncalled-for interference on the part of
British fishermen, and it is the duty of the
American fleet to guard the rights of our own
citizens.
Tue duties are not difficult iC the respective
parties are in Oued with a Just and friendly
spirit, and act in an honorable and courteous
manner. But the situation IS perilous if there
should be spirit OF haste and resentment, and
a style of rigidity and imperiousness on either
side. For, where citizens of two nations are
arrayed against each other on a question of
character like this, and where armed forces are
assembled within view OF one another to assert
and maintain the rights and privileges of each,
there is nothing more likely to nappen, here or
there, now or then, than some sort of misunder-
standing or petty quarrel or Incidental COLI
sion, which will grow or intensity, until state
of affairs is reached all but, if not altogether be-
yond the reach Of compromise.
Hence the necessity OF our naval commanders
in that quarter being impressed with the pro-
toundest feeling OF the decacy of their duties
and position. There is no danger OF American
naval officers exhibiting, in any presence, any
lack OF hlgh-toned traits of character or the
most honorable PRIDE professional and national.
We are unqualltledly proud OF our glorious navy
III this respect, and in all other respects. There
is only little danger that its spirit may be un-
duly aroused, on some occasion, By some un-
toward incident and that, in quick resentment
for some unauthorized wrong it may inconti-
nently lead us into lrremediable misfortune. As
the commander OF the North Atlantic Squadron
however, we are glad to hear that Admiral Far
raeut has placed in command of the vessels in
that locality officers as emirently gifted with
discretion as they are celebrated for pluck. And
we are happy to learn that between the officers
of the British and American fleets assembled in
the fishing grounds, there have been frequent
exchanges OF courtesies, and always a spirit
OF amly that promises the best results TO
the end.